Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson is not expected to play against Oklahoma State on Saturday, and coach Collin Klein said Monday that there's an "outside chance" Johnson will be able to return this season.
Johnson, the Wildcats' star senior quarterback, has missed Kansas State's past two games because of an unspecified injury suffered against Kansas. Klein described Johnson's absence as "probably looking longer than not."
Johnson is fourth in the Big 12 in total offense with 1,301 passing yards, 462 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns through six games.
Klein said Blake Barnett will get Saturday's start for the Wildcats (4-4, 1-4 Big 12). He will be the team's fourth different starting quarterback over its past four games.
Jacob Knuth started in place of Johnson for Kansas State's 28-17 loss to Arizona State and suffered an ankle injury in the game. Dillon Duff started against Colorado and was replaced late in the first quarter by Barnett, who produced 264 total yards and three touchdowns in a 27-24 overtime defeat. Knuth was ruled out for the Colorado game, and Klein said he probably won't be available against Oklahoma State.
"I've been through some crazy quarterback situations. I've not seen one like this before," Klein said. "I credit every one of those guys in that room because every one of those guys have faced some real stuff, not easy stuff, through the last 10 weeks. They've battled with each other, they've had each other's back, and we're overcoming it in some ways because of that."
Johnson has started 32 games over his career with the Wildcats and became the program's leader in career passing touchdowns this season. He'll have one more year of eligibility in 2027.
"My heart breaks for Avery and him obviously going through this," Klein said. "But at the end of the day, it's a team game and we have to be better collectively to get where we want to go."