Tight end Steward to miss 3-4 weeks

Reserve tight end AJ Steward, a 6-foot-3, 233-pound junior, will miss three to four weeks because of a shoulder injury suffered during Saturday’s win against Georgia Tech.

Used primarily as the Jayhawks’ U-back, a hybrid position that combines the route-running skills of a tight end with the blocking responsibilities of a running back, Steward had played in both of KU’s games this season and had one catch for eight yards against North Dakota State.

With Steward sidelined, junior Ted McNulty, 6-5, 230, will slide into his position as the first-string U-back. McNulty recorded his first career reception against Georgia Tech, an 11-yard grab from Jordan Webb in the third quarter that gave KU a first down.

Quigley questionable for Friday

In other injury news, senior running back Angus Quigley is listed as questionable for Friday’s game because of a leg injury. Quigley, who has 15 carries for 62 yards on the season, dropped to second on the depth chart at tailback this week, behind freshman James Sims, who broke out with 101 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries last week against Georgia Tech.

If Quigley can’t play, KU coach Turner Gill said red-shirt freshman Deshaun Sands, who missed the Georgia Tech game with an injury, would become the Jayhawks’ secondary ball carrier.

Wyatt familiar with Southern Miss

KU wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt, who doubles as the Jayhawks’ co-offensive coordinator, held a similar position in 2009 at Southern Miss.

Because of that, the Jayhawks believe they may have a slight advantage as they prepare to face the Eagles at 7 p.m. Friday.

“Coach Wyatt was over there last year, and he’s told us a few things about some of their guys, so we’re just preparing for everything,” said KU junior Daymond Patterson, who played cornerback during KU’s 35-28 victory last year and will start at wide receiver against the Eagles on Friday. “We know it’s going to be a big game, it’s on ESPN and everybody’s going to be watching. Like coach (Gill) said, ‘We’re putting our product out there in front of the nation and we’re going to be ready.'”

Bourbon heading toward red-shirt?

With injuries popping up at the running back position, Gill was asked on Tuesday if that might pave the way for freshman running back Brandon Bourbon to get some carries.

Gill said Bourbon would travel with the team to Southern Miss for this week’s game and would be ready if needed. However, it sounded as if Gill was hoping to keep Bourbon on the bench, possibly to preserve the 6-1, 208-pounder’s red-shirt season.

“If for some reason some guys get banged up and hurt then we will play him,” Gill said of the Potosi, Mo., product. “Right now we’re just kind of putting him on hold, but we’re not afraid to play him if we need to.”