Louisville football officially got hit with its first massive injury of the 2025 season. Star linebacker and key veteran Stanquan Clark is reported to miss "several games" after his lower-body injury from the Cardinals' Friday night win over James Madison.
Entering Week 2, only tight end Nate Kurisky and offensive tackle Trevonte Sylvester missed the Cardinals' first two games, and Louisville fans don't think they should miss many more games after the bye week. However, while those might not be too serious, Clark's injury could be costly for Louisville and might sideline him until October or November.
Clark's injury is a massive blow, and Louisville fans are heartbroken, but the lower-body injury creates the perfect chance for one of Louisville's youngsters to prove themselves to the fans and Jeff Brohm.
Related: 3 Louisville football players who must step up after Stanquan Clark's injury update
Former 5-star has perfect opportunity to shine after Clark's injury
Louisville has many rising stars on this 2025 roster, but a player the fans and the staff are really high on is former 5-star recruit TJ Capers. The redshirt sophomore is entering his third season with the Cardinals, and after having some injuries through his first two years to limit his minutes on the field, the Cardinals are expecting him to take a massive step with Clark going down.
Capers was ranked as high as a 5-star recruit in the 2024 class before he decided to reclass and join Louisville in 2023. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker was a 5-star recruit in the 2024 class and is the third-highest commit in program history. While Clark's injury is crushing and the Cardinals fans are devastated, Louisville is all-in on the rising sophomore.
"I am ready to take a bigger role in the spot," Capers stated during fall camp. "I feel comfortable in our defense, and I like how much that we learn and gel with each other. We are kind of comfortable and I kind of know what to expect from the guy next to me. I feel like we are going to give each other our all every play."
Capers has seen his production increase this season and expects a much bigger role after Clark's injury. Through two games, Capers has logged five total tackles, including two solo tackles against the Dukes last Friday night.
The time is now for Capers, and the Louisville fans expect him to step up and play to their standards while Clark is sidelined for an extensive period of time. Even if Clark returns this season, this is crucial for Capers' development, as he will be the future of Louisville's defense after this season, so it is his golden chance to prove he was worth the 5-star rating and the hype.
Related: Louisville's former 5-star turning heads after earning first-team reps in fall camp
For all the latest on Louisville football's 2025 season, stay tuned.