Rutgers Receiver KJ Duff to Miss Rest of Season After Surgery

Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff is done for the season after surgery to repair a high ankle sprain. The third-year player should be able to return to football workouts by early January, with next year’s NFL draft ahead of him.

Duff was hurt during Rutgers’ game against Michigan on October 31. He left in the second quarter and did not return, then sat out the team’s game against Wisconsin. Rutgers has lost three straight and stands at 2-7 overall, including a 1-5 record in Big Ten play.

Despite the team’s struggles, Duff had nine receiving touchdowns, the seventh-highest total nationally, and averaged 96.8 receiving yards per game, ranking 12th. He was named to the Associated Press preseason All-America second team.

Last season, Duff caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. He was one of three Big Ten players to surpass 1,000 receiving yards and became the seventh Rutgers player to reach that mark. Across 30 games, he has 132 receptions, 2,283 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Duff’s career totals place him seventh in Rutgers history in receiving yards, tied for fifth in touchdowns and tied for 10th in catches. He chose to return to Rutgers after considering other options, saying his decision came down to finishing what he began with coach Greg Schiano. The university has announced Schiano will return next season, his 19th at Rutgers.