Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman will not be starting in the Aggies’ SEC opener against Florida due to a reported shoulder injury. Weigman was listed on coach Mike Elko’s injury report for the first time on Thursday night. After warmups on Saturday, Elko decided to have him serve as a backup.
According to ESPN, Weigman is dealing with an upper-body issue, specifically an injury to his throwing shoulder, as confirmed by 247Sports’ Carter Karels.
In Weigman’s absence, backup quarterback Marcel Reed will be making his first career start as a sophomore. Reed, a former four-star recruit from Tennessee, had limited playing time in 2023 until the Texas Bowl, when he was thrust into action after then-starting quarterback Jaylen Henderson was injured on the first play against Oklahoma State.
Despite a challenging start, Reed ended the game against Oklahoma State with 361 passing yards on 20 completions out of 33 attempts, along with a rushing touchdown. He also played most of the second half in the Aggies’ recent game against McNeese State, completing 5 of 11 passes for 71 yards and running for an additional 43 yards.
While Weigman’s injury is unfortunate for Texas A&M, some analysts believe Reed may fit well into offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s system, suggesting that the drop in performance may not be significant. The Aggies will look for Reed to lead them in breaking a 10-game road losing streak as they take on the Gators in Gainesville.