Stanford will be without wide receiver Devon Cajuste this weekend when the No. 23 Cardinal visits Tempe for a Pac-12 Conference football game against No. 17 Arizona State on Saturday night.
Cajuste apparently was hurt Friday night against Washington State when a pass to the end zone was broken up and he came down hard, hitting the back of his head on the ground.
He seemed to lose his balance as he walked back to the team bench, causing team personnel to rush to his aid and guide him to the bench.
Stanford coach David Shaw did not reveal anything specific about Cajuste’s injury other than to say, “it’s very likely that he will be out for this game.”
Senior cornerback Ra’Chard Pippens and sophomore tight end Austin Hooper are questionable for the game against the Sun Devils.
Junior receiver Michael Rector and senior outside linebacker James Vaughters, both of whom were “banged up” in Stanford’s 34-17 win over the Cougars, are probable.
The Cardinal loses one of its “big-play guys” with the loss of Cajuste. Shaw said the team will rely on Rector, Francis Owusu and Jordan Pratt.
“Jordan hqas been ready to fill in at every spot,” Shaw said. “We’ll also look to our young tight ends Greg Taboada and Eric Cotton.”
Taboada and Cotton combined for three touchdown receptions from quarterback Kevin Hogan on Friday.
Cajuste, who missed the season opener against UC Davis for a violation of team rules, has 18 catches for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Only Ty Montgomery has caught more passes.
NOTES: The visiting team is 14-4 in Pac-12 games this season. “It’s amazing. It’s crazy,” Shaw said. “This conference is tough. You can’t say anybody is that much better on a given day.” … Players were given two days off following Stanford’s win over the Cougars and the coaching staff took one day off. … Hooper was named to the John Mackey Award midseason watch list on Monday.
By Rick Eymer/Palo Alto Online Sports
By Rick Eymer/Palo Alto Online Sports
By Rick Eymer/Palo Alto Online Sports