Auburn’s search for a go-to wide receiver took a hit on Wednesday when it learned that starter Jaylon Denson will miss the remainder of the season. Denson had three catches for 45 yards prior to injuring his knee in the first half against LSU last week.
The 6-foot-3 junior was the team’s best downfield blocker and an integral part of the run game. The coaching staff will now have to find a replacement as they continue to look for playmakers to emerge at receiver.
“It’s going to have to be by committee from here on out,” head coach Gus Malzahn said of the wide receiver group. “It’s good that we have an off week that we can working some guys, and right now, we’re rotating a whole bunch of guys. After this week, we’ll kind of settle in on our plan moving forward.”
The primary targets through four games have been Quan Bray, Sammie Coates, Marcus Davis and Ricardo Louis. Coates leads the team with 11 catches for 306 yards and finished with a team-best 139 yards against LSU.
With Denson out, former Alabama signee Melvin Ray and true freshman Tony Stevens could also be in line for more work. Stevens, an ESPN 300 recruit coming out of high school, caught his first two career passes on Saturday.
