Cam Rising, returning from injury, struggled in his comeback as No. 16 Utah fell to Arizona State.

TEMPE, Ariz. — For the fourth consecutive game, Utah quarterback Cam Rising participated in early warmups Friday night, sporting a glove on his hand. As usual, he suited up for the final padded warmups before Utah’s game against Arizona State at Mountain America Stadium.

Following a reported finger dislocation and laceration during Utah’s Week 2 victory over Baylor, many anticipated Rising's return. However, this pregame scene had played out before, with Rising warming up ahead of games against Utah State, Oklahoma State, and Arizona. Utah fans had grown wary of expecting his appearance until they saw him actually take a snap.

On this hot desert night, Rising emerged for the coin toss, just as in previous weeks. But this time, when Utah’s offense took the field for the first series, it was indeed Rising at the helm. Isaac Wilson had kept the team competitive in his absence, leading them to a 3-1 record, but for Utah to stay in contention for a Big 12 title, they needed their veteran quarterback back.

Rising’s return seemed perfectly timed, as the Utes had suffered a loss to Arizona two weeks earlier and couldn’t afford another setback. The sight of Rising leading the offense brought a collective sense of relief to Utah’s team and fanbase. That relief was short-lived.

In just his second pass of the game, Arizona State defensive lineman Jeff Clark, all 285 pounds of him, landed hard on Rising’s right leg, with the quarterback’s ankle appearing to take the worst of it. Rising immediately grabbed his leg and limped off the field. In a cruel twist of fate, just three snaps into his comeback, Rising had a new injury to deal with.

Struggling with his right leg, Rising’s ability to plant and step into throws diminished, and the zip he displayed in pregame warmups vanished. He was limited to checkdowns and short throws for most of the game. Whether it was the leg, his hand, or both, it was clear Rising wasn’t at full strength, a far cry from the quarterback who had led Utah to consecutive Pac-12 championships.

“He got rolled up on, it was a lower-leg injury that limited his mobility,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham explained. “He’s also still wearing the glove to help with grip. He’s banged up, no doubt about it.”

Rising completed 16 of 37 passes for 209 yards in Utah’s 27-19 loss to Arizona State, throwing three interceptions and finishing with a passer rating of 74.5.

“I played like (expletive). That’s all there is to it,” Rising candidly admitted when asked whether the hand or leg—or both—was limiting him.

Though Rising showed flashes of his former self, like a 35-yard pass to Dorian Singer near the end of the second quarter, he never looked comfortable and missed several key throws.

At halftime, Utah trailed 13-9, and though the game remained close, it would have been a difficult call to pull Rising. Utah stuck with him, hoping for a turnaround in a must-win game. But Rising’s injuries clearly affected his performance, leading to two second-half interceptions and missed opportunities.

"No, he wanted to stay in," Whittingham said about the decision to keep Rising in the game. “Cam’s won a lot of games for us. He wasn’t 100%, but it’s a coaching decision about who gives you the best chance to win.”

Despite Rising leading the team’s only touchdown drive of the night, capped by a 6-yard run from Micah Bernard, Utah’s red zone struggles persisted. The Utes managed just one touchdown in four trips to the red zone, with one drive ending in a Rising interception.

"As long as we’re struggling in the red zone, we may not win another game this season," Whittingham admitted. "We’ve spent more time practicing it, but the results weren’t there."

Arizona State’s offense, led by running back Cam Skattebo and quarterback Sam Leavitt, proved too much for Utah’s injury-riddled defense. Skattebo rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard breakaway score in the third quarter. Utah’s tackling issues, a season-long problem, were evident throughout the game, with several missed tackles contributing to Skattebo’s big plays.

With several key defensive players out, Utah struggled to contain Arizona State’s offense, especially in critical moments.

“Injuries are part of the game, but the guys who are out there have to get the job done,” Whittingham said.

Now sitting at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play, the Utes face an uphill battle to stay in the conference title race. Friday night’s loss may also mark the end of the Cam Rising era at Utah.