Rebels lose WR Metcalf to neck injury
Ole Miss, ravaged in the secondary, had mostly avoided injuries on offense, but that’s no longer the case.
Rebels coach Matt Luke confirmed Monday that starting wide receiver DK Metcalf will miss the remainder of the season with a neck injury.
Metcalf was injured in the first quarter of the Rebels’ 37-33 win against Arkansas in Little Rock.
Luke said the injury will likely require surgery but does not involve the spine.
“Long-term he’s going to be fine,” Luke said.
Against Arkansas, the Ole Miss offense was finally able to impose its will in conference play. The Rebels overcame a sluggish first quarter and deficits of 17-3 and 30-17 before rallying for the win.
Metcalf had one catch for 49 yards before leaving the game.
Ole Miss offensive coordinator Phil Longo increased his use of quarterback Jordan Ta’amu in the run game, a huge benefit for the Rebels.
With the Hogs often in man coverage, Ta’amu found space in the middle of the field and avoided the hits of Arkansas’ physical linebackers.
He finished with 141 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and now has three rushing touchdowns in the last two weeks as the Rebels prepare to host suddenly vulnerable Auburn.
Ta’amu was also 26-for-35 passing for 387 yards and two more touchdowns.
His 528 yards of total offense placed him second in the record book behind Archie Manning’s total of 540 yards set against Alabama in 1969.
Running back Scottie Phillips had 86 yards and scored the game-winner on a five-yarder with 42 seconds left after Ta’amu led a 97-yard drive.
It was Phillips’ blocking that made a big difference as Ole Miss reclaimed momentum in the second half.
“It was easier for us to get Scottie on a backer and get Jordan going,” Longo said. “They did a good job with our counter game and really had that schemed up, so we ran some power, some isos and some other things.”
The Rebels improved to 5-2 and have won eight of their last 11 games. Saturday morning they’ll face an Auburn team coming off a shocking 30-24 home loss to Tennessee.
Auburn held Tennessee to 1.9 yards per rush on 36 attempts but Vols quarterback Jarrett Guarantano passed for 328 yards and two scores.
Ta’amu’s improved health — there were shoulder issues after he took a big hit against Alabama on Sept. 15 — has coincided with is increases versatility.
He compared the game-winning drive in Little Rock to the one he led in Lexington last year when he marched the Rebels down the field and threw a game-winning pass to DK Metcalf with five seconds left to seal a 37-34 win.