Who is Isaac Wilson? Utah QB Cam Rising's hand injury puts Zach Wilson's brother in spotlight

09-18-2024
5 min read
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An injury shook up No. 12 Utah's QB room during the Utes' 23-12 win over Baylor. 

After senior Cam Rising, a seventh-year player who is one of the oldest players in the country, was injured in the Week 2 win, the 25-year-old was replaced by the Utes' No. 2 option at the position: Isaac Wilson. 

When healthy, Rising has been one of the best QBs in the country for Utah, which is ranked 12th in the AP Top 25. If his hand injury keeps him out of the lineup, that could be a massive blow for the team.

Here are the latest updates on Rising's injury, plus details on Wilson and his NFL connections.

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Cam Rising injury update

Rising did not play in Utah's Week 3 matchup against in-state rival Utah State. The latest update did come with good news: nothing is broken in Rising's hand and he is expected to return against Oklahoma State in Week 4.

That looks to be the case, as ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Wednesday following the rivalry game that Rising should return against the Cowboys. The quarterback took part in the team's practice on Tuesday, a positive indication given he did not participate ahead of last weekend's contest. However, Thamel did notice that Rising has been wearing a glove on his throwing hand during training. 

“He had a dislocated finger on his throwing hand, and my understanding, there were some stitches near that finger,” he said on College Football Live.

“Those injuries are obviously healing, so will he or won’t he have a glove on his throwing hand in Stillwater is one of the big questions we’ll be watching in pregame warmups.”

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The seventh-year QB suffered the injury during the second quarter of Saturday's game against Baylor as he left the field after colliding with the water coolers on the sideline. 

Wilson took over under center from there for the Utes.

Later in the contest, Rising appeared on the sidelines in street clothes, an indication that he wouldn't be returning to the game. He also had two fingers taped on his right hand.

Before his injury, Rising completed 8 of 14 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. The situation threw Wilson — who has some family history in the quarterbacking world — into the starting role for Utah.

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Who is Isaac Wilson?

Wilson, a freshman at Utah this season, is the younger brother of now-Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson, who played college football at BYU before becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Isaac Wilson was a 4-star recruit out of Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah. He was a two-time first-team All-State selection, per his Utah roster page, and led his high school squad to a state title in 2023. 

Per 247Sports, Wilson was the No. 21 quarterback recruit in the 2024 class. 

In Week 1, Wilson made his college debut against Southern Utah, throwing for 74 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Wilson was forced to step in for Rising in Week 2, finishing with 30 yards on 4-of-9 passing.