STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor’s anticipated return to action was cut short Saturday when he aggravated a lingering right foot injury during the first quarter against Oklahoma, according to ABC News.
Taylor, who had missed the previous week’s game against LSU, exited Davis Wade Stadium’s field after scrambling late in the opening period. The sophomore quarterback took a hit as he ran out of bounds on a fourth-down play and was visibly hobbled, ABC News reported. Mississippi State officials ruled him out for the remainder of the contest prior to halftime, Yahoo Sports reported.
A brief comeback ends in the locker room
Before his departure, Taylor struggled to find a rhythm against the Sooners’ defense. Over four possessions, he completed two of five pass attempts for 10 yards, was sacked two times, and lost 12 yards across three rushing carries, according to game statistics reported by Yahoo Sports and ABC News.
Taylor showed immediate discomfort after scrambling toward the sideline. Sideline reporter Tori Petry reported via On3Sports that Taylor was unable to place weight on his injured right foot as he reached the bench. Petry noted that he leaned on a trainer and teammate AJ Swann for support before heading into the locker room for evaluation, The Sporting News reported.
Freshman backup quarterback Parker Puckett stepped in to direct the offense for Mississippi State. Puckett previously started in Taylor’s absence during a 31-0 loss to LSU, where he threw for 121 yards with one interception, Yahoo Sports reported.
Lingering toe and foot issues
Taylor originally suffered what has been described as a turf toe or foot injury during a 31-24 victory over Missouri on Sept. 26, The Sporting News reported. Although he started the following week on Oct. 3 against Alabama, he re-aggravated the injury and was forced out with 12 minutes remaining in a 56-23 loss, according to game recaps.
After an open date and sitting out the LSU matchup, Taylor participated more extensively in practice during the week leading up to the Oklahoma game, ClutchPoints reported. He remained listed as questionable on the Southeastern Conference student-athlete availability report until game day, when team officials cleared him to dress and play, according to The Sporting News.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel had reported earlier that Taylor planned to attempt to play in the matchup, which marked the first meeting between the programs and pitted Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby against his former team, where he served as offensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023.
Bulldogs face uncertain timeline
Taylor opened the campaign with an explosive stretch of play, powering Mississippi State to a 4-0 start that included wins over Minnesota, South Carolina, and Missouri. Through five appearances, Taylor paced the SEC with 290 passing yards per contest and 17 touchdown passes, ClutchPoints reported. However, the recurring foot trouble has severely limited his trademark rushing mobility since late September.
Oklahoma held a 17-0 lead over Mississippi State in the third quarter following Taylor’s exit, The Sporting News reported. Mississippi State medical personnel have not yet announced the full severity of the re-injury or an estimated timeline for Taylor’s potential return.
