RB Duke Watson Headlines UCF Injury Report Ahead of Arizona State Game

Running back Duke Watson headlines a lengthy UCF Knights injury report ahead of their home game against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday.

Watson was carted off the field in last Saturday's thriller win over the Kansas Jayhawks. He wore street clothes and a boot on his right foot on the sidelines.

Coach Scott Frost couldn't provide an update on the junior's status in his weekly press conference on Monday. Frost said he'd learn more Monday evening, and now the Knights will be without their speedster workhorse.

The junior has 596 yards and three touchdowns on 94 carries this season.

He's a big playmaker, bursting through open gaps with blazing speed for momentum-shifting runs. Watson has two longest rushes of 60-plus yards, both in non-conference play against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and Georgia State Panthers.

UCF's No. 1 running back joins six other Knights who will miss Saturday's game: defensive backs Demari Henderson, DJ Bell and Kahmel Johnson; offensive lineman Tyler Gibson and tight end Dylan Burk.

Henderson is arguably UCF's most-valuable defensive player this season.

He became the second Knight with two or more multi-interception games, recording two interceptions and adding seven tackles in Week 3's win over the Georgia State Panthers. The Big 12 awarded him the Defensive Player of the Week honors for his stellar performance.

The redshirt senior is a Swiss Army knife for the Knights' defense, playing multiple assignments.

While UCF is without key players, the team could get linebacker Lewis Carter back, as he's listed as probable. Carter has missed every conference game starting from Week 4.

The 6-foot senior is UCF's heart of the front seven. He leads as the captain, calling out offensive adjustments and communicating with his teammates.

UCF has missed his presence over the middle, especially in second-half collapses against ranked foes. The then-No. 20 Houston Cougars and then-No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowboys repeatedly completed passes over the linebackers' zones to walk down the Knights.

Carter's potential return bolsters a deep linebacker corps that's held the fort. He's joining Tackett Curtis, Jahleel Culbreath, Jayden Jennings and Cole Kozlowski in the front seven.

The Knights are one win away from snapping a two-season bowl drought. Getting back a major defensive addition shores up the middle of the field and gives defensive coordinator Alex Grinch peace of mind.

Grinch said he feels better when Carter is out on the field quarterbacking the defense.