The quarterback injured his finger after jamming it in a door, which put his Week 1 status in doubt, but how is he progressing?
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings sent a scare through the team when it was revealed he suffered a finger injury after jamming it in a door.
That means backup Ty Hawkins would take the first-team reps in his absence, per head coach Rhett Lashlee, and some thought that Jennings' place in the team for the season opener against Florida State was in jeopardy.
Not practicing for a couple of days, the fear was real that SMU might start the season, in which they had been named one of the teams to beat in the ACC, without their starter.
But now we have word that Jennings is in fact ahead of schedule in his return, per Brett McMurphy of On3.
In truth, the finger injury was never likely to see Jennings miss any real time, but it was more a cautious approach from the coaching staff to have him sit, get it healed so that he is full go on September 7 against Florida State.
Plus, it gave Hawkins a chance to get some much-needed reps with the starters, as we know injury can strike anytime, so having a chance to build that chemistry, even for a couple of days, is a big deal.
Now, Mustangs fans can breathe a little easier as Jennings is on track to not only be fully healthy, but also not appear to be in danger of missing any games.
For a team seen as one that could make some serious noise in college football in 2026, having everyone fully healthy is a must.
After winning at least nine games in each of his last three seasons, Lashlee has this Mustangs team primed for another playoff surge.
The schedule is also favorable, with SMU missing out on all the top teams, which is why having Jennings healthy is a big deal. With him at the helm, the Mustangs should be winning the games they're expected to.
Likely back at practice already participating in drills, Jennings' finger injury was a minor blip on the radar, although it did cause some angst initially.
But now, the star quarterback looks destined to be all gas, no brakes as the Mustangs look to build on last season's Holiday Bowl win and go even further under Lashlee.
