George Fitzpatrick injury update: Will Kansas State football OL play in 2026?

MANHATTAN — Kansas State football offensive lineman George Fitzpatrick’s status for the 2026 season remains a question after missing the entire 2025 season due to a preseason medical emergency.

Wildcats coach Collin Klein said Tuesday, Aug. 11, during his fall camp press conference that Fitzpatrick still has some benchmarks to hit that he, his family, specialists and team doctors agreed upon.

“He’s still working through that process,” Klein said. “He’s not quite there yet.”

Klein’s sentiment Tuesday echoed what he said last month during Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas. The 6-foot-6, 301-pound offensive tackle transferred to K-State before last season from Ohio State and was expected to be the team’s starting left tackle.

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Fitzpatrick’s absence was felt along an offensive line that wasn’t the most consistent. It did, however, open the door for more time for John Pastore, who enters this season as an All-Big 12 offensive tackle.

At this point, anything Fitzpatrick can give would feel like a bonus. The Wildcats will have four new starters on the offensive line this season, where Fitzpatrick could have figured into the right tackle battle if healthy. Instead, that spot appears to be Gus Hawkins’, unless he’s challenged by freshman Oliver Miller or Auburn transfer Tyler Johnson.

Fitzpatrick played 16 games during the 2024 season with the Buckeyes, playing 84 offensive snaps for a team that won a national championship.

Outside of Fitzpatrick, Klein indicated that the Wildcats are healthy through a week of fall camp.

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com