Avery Johnson out vs. Colorado, K-State turns to Barnett

The Big 12 availability report dropped Wednesday night, and K-State's QB room took another hit.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

Kansas State QB Avery Johnson has been ruled out for this week at Colorado. Will be his second consecutive game sidelined with injury. t.co/2Q2X3FVywR

This has been building for 2 weeks. Johnson went down in the first quarter of the October 17 win over Kansas at the end of a 59-yard run. He missed 1 play, laughed it off on the sideline and finished the game. Now he's dealing with neck and shoulder issues and hasn't played since. Jacob Knuth started in his place last week and went 26-of-41 for 194 yards and 1 touchdown in a 28-17 loss to Arizona State. Not a disaster, not a spark either.

Now Knuth is hurt too. He reportedly rolled his ankle twice in that Arizona State game and is listed as doubtful. That pushes K-State toward its 3rd different starting quarterback in 3 weeks, and the beat writers are already naming the next 2 guys in line.

Kellis Robinett

@KellisRobinett

K-State QB injury update. Dillon Duff and Blake Barnett are the next men up

Here's the problem: neither option has much of a résumé. Barnett, a junior, appeared in 4 games last season as a running quarterback and threw 5 passes in the opener against Nicholls on September 5. He hasn't played since, and he was on crutches for weeks after a Week 1 injury. Duff, a sophomore, has never appeared in a college game and has battled injuries all season. That's who Collin Klein might be handing the keys to on the road at Folsom Field. At least 1 K-State voice online already has a preference, and it's short and sweet: start Blake Barnett.

Colorado isn't exactly at full strength either. The Buffs' first report had Quentin Gibson and Micah Welch out, Julian Lewis and Vili Taufatofua doubtful, and defensive lineman Dylan Manuel questionable.

Brian Howell

@BrianHowell33

Initial report. Colorado lists Quentin Gibson and Micah Welch as out, and QB Julian Lewis as doubtful. DL Dylan Manuel as questionable is probably the most impactful injury listed. K-State has its top 2 QBs on the list. #cubuffs

The Lewis tag means less than it looks. The former 5-star lost the starting job to Isaac Wilson back in Week 5, so a doubtful listing doesn't change who's under center for Deion Sanders' team. Manuel is the one that actually matters. If Colorado's pass rush is short a key piece, that's a real break for whichever K-State backup gets thrown into his first meaningful action of the season.

Kickoff is Saturday, October 31 at 1 p.m. CT on TNT. Watch the final availability report before the game for Knuth's ankle. If he can't go, this game comes down to whether a quarterback with 5 career pass attempts this year, or one with zero college snaps, can win in Boulder. K-State fans have plenty of reason to be nervous.