Louisville Safety M.J. Griffin ‘Probably’ Out for 2023 Season

The starting safety for the Cardinals suffered a “lower leg injury” in fall camp earlier this week.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville football program will be short a major defensive asset for year one of the Jeff Brohm era.

Starting free safety M.J. Griffin will “probably” miss the entirety of the 2023 season, head coach Jeff Brohm announced Saturday. Brohm says Griffin suffered a “lower leg injury” in fall camp earlier this week.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound defensive back played a key role in Louisville's defensive turnaround last season, and was one of the Cardinals' top returning defenders for 2023. The Temple transfer began the 2022 season playing almost exclusively on special teams over the first five games, but was elevated to starting free safety against Virginia when regular starter Kenderick Duncan was injured.

Griffin held this spot for the remainder of the season, and his elevation to starter played a big role in Louisville significantly cutting down the amount of big plays they were giving up. The Cardinals averaged 210.4 passing yards allowed per game before Griffin cracked the starting rotation, and averaged 188.6 afterwards.

Despite seeing meaningful defensive playing time in only eight of the 13 games, the Ypsilanti, Mich. native finished seventh on the team in tackles with 45, while also logging a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble in the process.

It goes without saying this is a major hit to Louisville's secondary and expected production. With Griffin now on the sideline, Baylor transfer Devin Neal will likely take over as the starting free safety alongside starting strong safety Josh Minkins.

UNC transfer Cam'Ron Kelly is also expected be leaned on heavily on the back end for depth purposes. Brohm also announced that fellow returner D'Angelo Hutchinson will be out “for an extended period of time.”

The Cardinals will kick off their 2023 season against Georgia Tech in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, Sept. 1.

(Photo of M.J. Griffin: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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