Virginia running back Perris Jones has regained movement in his extremities after suffering an injury during Thursday night’s road game against No. 13 Louisville, the school announced early Friday morning.
Late in the third quarter, safety Cam’Ron Kelly and several other Cardinals hit Jones after he caught a pass in the flat from quarterback Anthony Colandrea. Jones fumbled, but the ball was recovered by Virginia teammate Malik Washington, who ran 42 yards for a touchdown.
During a 10-minute pause in the game and amid a hushed crowd at L&N Stadium, medical workers stabilized Jones, carted him off the field and took him to UofL Hospital, where he underwent an MRI exam and remained overnight.
“It’s a very, very difficult reality of the sport that we play, that every play can end that way, and you don’t wish that for anybody,” Virginia Coach Tony Elliott said after the game. “Man, I know one thing: He’s is a tough young man and he lays it on the line every time he goes out there for this football team. [We’re] believing and praying that he’s going to have a full recovery. I’m putting that in the Lord’s hands and I’m asking for that in advance and believing that that’s going to be the case.”
Kelly told reporters after the game that Jones went low so he also went low in an attempt to tackle him.
“I’m just praying for him,” Kelly said. “I said my piece to him when he was on the stretcher. I’ve got nothing but love for him. I hope he has a speedy recovery.”
Kelly briefly was a member of the Cavaliers and took part in this year’s Virginia spring game after transferring from North Carolina. In April, he decided to transfer again to Louisville.
Washington’s touchdown gave the Cavaliers a 21-14 lead, but the Cardinals outscored Virginia, 17-3, in the fourth quarter to earn a 31-24 victory.
