Arizona State will be without one of its top playmakers this week, as Kenny Dillingham confirmed that wide receiver Jordyn Tyson won’t suit up against West Virginia. The junior wideout is still working through a lingering injury, and the earliest he could return would be in next week’s matchup against Colorado.
Dillingham was pretty matter-of-fact about the situation, saying Tyson is “doing everything he can” to get back on the field, but he’s just not ready yet. When asked about the timeline, he pointed to the Buffaloes as a more realistic target for return.
That’s a blow for the Sun Devils. Tyson’s been a major piece of what Arizona State has done offensively, and taking him off the field in the middle of Big 12 play is far from ideal. He’s a field-stretcher who forces defenses to stay honest. Without him, things get a lot tighter, and you’ve got to rely on guys who don’t quite tilt the field the same way.
Through seven games this season, Tyson’s racked up more than 600 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He’s their main target when it comes to moving the sticks and creating mismatches across the field. His ability to win on the outside and get separation in one-on-one coverage has been a safety valve for the ASU offense all year.
Now, someone else has to step up. That could mean more touches for tight ends or an expanded role for the younger receivers, but whoever it is, they’ve got their work cut out for them. West Virginia has been up and down this year, but they enter the contest on a two-game win streak.
Dillingham knows this isn’t the time of year you want to be reshuffling the depth chart, especially at a spot like wide receiver. But the show must go on. The Sun Devils have to get creative, execute better, and make the most of every opportunity if they want to stay competitive without one of their biggest weapons.
