Rutgers football looks ready to bring back coach Greg Schiano despite a disastrous 2026 season. But the Scarlet Knights won't have star wide receiver KJ Duff for the rest of the year.

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel dropped a health update there on Wednesday.

“Sources: Rutgers star wide receiver KJ Duff underwent season-ending high-ankle surgery this week. He’ll miss the remainder of the year,” Thamel posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.

Thamel, though, added how Duff won't miss the start of the offseason.

“He’s expected to resume full football activities in January,” Thamel added.

So Rutgers looks like it'll run it back with both the longtime coach and, arguably, its biggest star. Duff caught 45 passes for 774 yards and scored nine touchdowns, with the latter now a career-high.

Duff previously delivered 1,084 yards through 60 receptions in 2025. He'll lure back an impressive resume at Piscataway, New Jersey once he's fully healthy.

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But again, Rutgers' season became lost during 2026. The Scarlet Knights fell in stunning fashion to UMass during the season opener. That 37-21 Minutemen romp sparked an 0-3 start for Rutgers. Then the Knights struggled to pull the upset of USC in their Big Ten Conference opener, with the Trojans No. 12 at the time.

Rutgers owns just one Big Ten win this season: Beating Maryland 37-30 with the Terrapins turning to an interim coach post Mike Locksley. The Knights now enter Saturday carrying a 2-7 overall record with a three-game losing streak in tow.

Duff will more than likely gain the attention of pro teams, though, during the 2027 season.