With only weeks until the regular season begins, the last thing a coach wants to deal with is an injury to a key player.
Louisiana running back Darius Hoggins was expected to be the starter for the Ragin' Cajuns this season, but he will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks with an injury—but the injury wasn't suffered on the field.
According to Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth and the Daily Advertiser, Hoggins was hurt as he fell while reading his cell phone. Hoggins broke his jaw and also broke several teeth in what Hudspeth called "sort of a freak accident."
Hoggins was a backup last season, and he rushed for 284 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries. The fifth-year senior was competing for the starting RB job this fall, but now it's unclear whether he will be ready to play on Sept. 2 when Louisiana takes on Southeast Louisiana.
Hudspeth said the running back job is "wide open," and it would have been even if Hoggins was still healthy.
The specifics of how the injury actually happened weren't revealed, but breaking your jaw or breaking teeth sounds incredibly painful. Hopefully he recovers in time for the beginning of the regular season.
(h/t The Daily Advertiser)