Chris Klieman shares injury updates on two ailing K-State starters before Baylor game

Quarterback is no longer an injury concern for the Kansas State football team, but the Wildcats are now dealing with ailments elsewhere on their offense.

Two of K-State’s best wide receivers were clearly in pain immediately following a 34-27 loss against Texas over the weekend. Malik Knowles got banged up late in the second half and was unable to finish the game. Not long after that, Kade Warner exited the locker room with a walking boot on his right foot.

Those ailments were unwelcome news for the Wildcats. Just when they got starting quarterback Adrian Martinez back in the lineup — he threw for 329 yards against the Longhorns — two of his main targets popped up on the injury report.

Will he have them back when K-State heads to Baylor for its next game?

Chris Klieman provided some clarity on the health status of both players during his weekly news conference on Tuesday.

“I don’t see Malik or Kade practicing today,” Klieman said. “Our hope is to get them back on Wednesday. That’s what the trainers have said, whether it’s in a limited role or whether it’s more full speed. But we believe both are going to be available.”

For now, it seems like both Knowles and Warner are on track to play against the Bears. But it remains unclear how close either player will be to feeling 100% healthy at kickoff.

The Wildcats will hope each of them heals this week, because they have been effective weapons in the passing game of late.

Knowles has caught 35 passes for 540 yards and a touchdown this season, but he has done most of his damage in recent weeks. He has averaged five catches and 95.8 receiving yards over K-State’s past four games.

Warner has also been trending upward. The Nebraska transfer has found the end zone in three straight games, grabbing two passes for 40 yards and a touchdown against TCU, five passes for 97 yards and two scores against Oklahoma State and then five passes for 52 yards and another score against Texas.

There is a reason why Klieman recently called him “a highlight machine.”

It is unclear how quickly Knowles will be able to recover from his lower-body injury. Or how well he can play through pain if he remains hobbled in any way. But Warner said his injury is nothing new.

“My ankle has been hurting for a while now,” Warner said. “When you get this old, things start hurting. But it’s nothing major. It’s just precautionary.”