Wyoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel: ‘Kaden Anderson is Fine’

LARAMIE -- Kaden Anderson is a little worse for wear, but his laid-back demeanor remains fully intact.

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"He got me good," Wyoming's quarterback said with a grin Monday afternoon as he made his way to the War Memorial Stadium parking lot.

He sure did.

The sophomore quarterback was violently speared to the turf by an untouched cornerback blitz late in the third quarter of Saturday's 31-7 victory over visiting Northern Iowa. Johnathan Cabral-Martin laid the lumber. Defensive lineman Jack Kriebs pounced on the resulting fumble.

Anderson writhed in pain for a number of minutes before being helped to the home sideline and eventually the medical tent. He later left for the locker room and was taken to Ivinson Memorial Hospital for further testing.

NORTHERN IOWA GAME COVERAGE VIA 7220SPORTS:

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* LIVE FILE: Wyoming Cowboys vs. Northern Iowa Panthers

* Gear Up For Game Day: Northern Iowa

His head coach said postgame Anderson suffered an "upper-body injury," and early indications were there was no major damage or a season-threatening ailments.

Jay Sawvel made that statement official Monday during his weekly press conference ahead of the Cowboys' much-anticipated matchup with No. 20 Utah.

"I would anticipate him playing, for sure," he said. "Kaden Anderson is fine."

Unless there is a setback or some residual effects from that blast, Sawvel added, the Southlake, Texas product should be a full participant in practice this afternoon, if not, Tuesday, at the latest.

"We're all very fortunate that wasn't anything more than what that was," he said, pointing to his own chest/ rib area and adding Anderson's shoulder, arm, and most importantly, head, is unscathed."

Anderson completed 17-of-23 throws for 167 yards while helping move the Cowboys to 2-0 on the young season. He also tossed a pair of touchdown passes, including a 21-yard strike to wideout Chris Durr Jr. midway through the third quarter.

Landon Sims, who spent the previous three seasons at East Central Community College (Miss.), relieved Anderson, completing all three of his passing attempts for 23 yards and adding 12 more on the ground.

Coaches, teammates said postgame they have unwavering faith in the sophomore if his number is called against the Utes. He appreciates the sentiment, but his thoughts Saturday were also with Anderson.

"It was tough," Sims said. "You always worry about it, especially a hit like that. You just worry for his well being ... You just kind of worry about the person more, because, you know, he is a good person. You hate to see somebody go down like that."

With the gap growing on the scoreboard, it's likely Sims would've been inserted under center in the fourth quarter.

"You know, maybe -- probably," Sims said with a grin.

Gage Brook is the No. 3 option behind Sims in the quarterback pecking order. The state's top recruit, Gillette's Mason Drube, is a last resort.

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Jaylen Sargent, Anderson's roommate, took an unexpected blast to the back himself Saturday against the Panthers. Admittedly, the senior receiver felt that one reverberate through the next day. As far as his good friend, Sargent added, it was business as usual.

"Oh, yeah, he's good. He's a fighter," he said of the 6-foot-4, 230-pound signal caller. "I was talking to him all morning, yesterday and today, and it's almost like he didn't even take that hit. He's getting better today."

Anderson didn't officially meet with the media on Monday because of his "range-of-motion" regimen in the training room.