Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) is helped off the field by team training staff during the second half of the First Responder Bowl NCAA college football game against Memphis, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
DALLAS – Utah State had injury added to the insult of a 38-10 loss to Memphis in the First Responder Bowl. With a little over 10 minutes left in the third quarter, starting quarterback Cooper Legas left the game with a leg injury.
On the play in question, Legas was sacked for a fourth time in that game, thrown to the ground by Memphis freshman James Stewart. He was tended to by trainers for a couple minutes before being helped off the field. As he left the field Legas was unable to put weight on his right leg.
To that point Legas had thrown for just 34 yards on 7-of-12 passing. The junior had been successful running the ball, gaining 61 yards on the ground in just eight carries after adjusting for yards lost on sacks. The play before Legas went down he scrambled for 13 yards on 3rd and 10 to give Utah State a first down.
Later in the game, Legas was still on the sideline without his pads and his leg in a walking boot.
Utah State head coach Blake Anderson speculated that the injury appeared to be a high ankle or MCL injury. He added that at first glance the injury didn’t seem to be one that would require surgery and “would expect that by the time we start spring ball he’s completely healthy and ready to compete.”
