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Utah running back Daniel Bray’s status in doubt after suffering concussion

Bray’s status for Arkansas is uncertain.

(Bethany Baker  |  The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes running back Daniel Bray (5) runs the ball during the first half of the game between the Utah Utes and the Idaho Vandals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes running back Daniel Bray (5) runs the ball during the first half of the game between the Utah Utes and the Idaho Vandals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.

Utah showed off its running back depth in the Utes’ season-opening win over Idaho.

Now, that depth might be tested.

Utah sophomore running back Daniel Bray suffered a concussion against Idaho, according to head coach Morgan Scalley, leaving his status in doubt for Utah’s matchup against Arkansas on Saturday.

Bray played just three snaps against Idaho, finishing the game with two carries for 13 yards before exiting.

“Yeah [it’s a] concussion,” Scalley said during his Monday news conference. “He’s going through the protocol right now. It looks like we’re on track to have him back, but with concussions, you never know. It’s day to day how they handle everything. So we’re making sure that he’s safe and ready to go.”

The sophomore running back emerged as a key contributor in the Utes’ offense last season.

Bray finished with 40 carries for 272 rushing yards and one touchdown. His best performance of the season came against BYU, when he rushed for 121 yards and one touchdown.

The speedster from Fort Worth, Texas, also caught eight passes for 47 yards.

If Bray is unable to go on Saturday, the Utes have a number of running backs to go to in his place, including starter Wayshawn Parker, Steve Chavez-Soto and freshman LaMarcus Bell, who led the team in rushing yards last week.

“That’s a position group I know is going to come ready every single week,” Scalley said after the Idaho win.

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