LAWRENCE — Kansas football’s defense excelled in many ways this past weekend, during its loss against UNLV.

The Jayhawks had no shortage of tackles for loss or sacks, collecting nine and two, respectively. For much of the game, the Rebels struggled to sustain drives. Had Kansas’ offense performed closer to expectation, the Jayhawks likely would have been celebrating a win than handling another loss.

But Kansas (1-2) came up short in a 23-20 loss against UNLV (3-0). The Jayhawks weren’t able to get off the field during a nine-plus minute drive during the fourth quarter, that allowed the Rebels to take the lead for good. And ahead of Saturday’s game on the road against West Virginia, it looks as if Kansas again won’t have redshirt junior linebacker Jayson Gilliom available to help turn the tide of the season.

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“I don’t know if he’ll be available this week,” KU head coach Lance Leipold said about Gilliom, who didn’t play against UNLV. “It’s not looking that way.”

Gilliom had been listed as the starter at HAWK linebacker on the depth chart previously, although Kansas had started a third safety and not him the first couple games. This week, though, he wasn’t even on the depth chart. Leipold outlined the leg injury Gilliom sustained during the loss at Illinois has continued to keep Gilliom from doing much.

Gilliom persevered through injury earlier in his career to be able to be relied upon this season. He received praise during fall camp, and in the past, for doing so. But Gilliom, who has four tackles and a quarterback hurry through two appearances in 2024, might have to wait longer to truly showcase what he’s capable of.

It’s unclear how much longer Gilliom will be unavailable, but redshirt senior linebacker Alex Raich got a start against UNLV in Gilliom’s place. Defensive coordinator Brian Borland mentioned senior linebacker Taiwan Berryhill Jr. as another person who the team could turn to if Gilliom continues to be unavailable. Raich, though, impressed in a chance to show how capable he is.

“We’re not asking him to do things outside of what his capabilities are,” Borland said about Raich. “He plays in certain personnel packages, he doesn’t in others, so I think it’s working out well for him because it keeps him in his niche.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football could be without Jayson Gilliom against West Virginia