Arizona's Wright, nation's top LB, to have MRI after injuring knee

Arizona All-America linebacker Scooby Wright injured his left knee in the 22nd-ranked Wildcats' 42-32 season-opening win over UTSA on Thursday night and did not return.

Wright was injured in the first quarter and went to the sideline to have his knee worked on by Arizona's trainer. The junior tried to return later in the quarter, but came off again to be attended to by the trainer. He remained on the bench with his knee wrapped in ice and returned in the second half in street clothes, walking with a cane to support his left leg.

The absolute last thing anyone wanted to see on opening night: Arizona's Scooby Wright on a crutch. pic.twitter.com/JpT27lLryz
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) September 4, 2015

Scooby Wright leaves Arizona's opener vs. UTSA with apparent leg injury: http://t.co/VKI5rq6u2S pic.twitter.com/rPJ1ffUBGy
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) September 4, 2015

According to Anthony Gimino of Tucson CBS affiliate KOLD, Wright's father said his son will have an MRI exam on Thursday night.

"I don't think it's bad — MCL, ACL, whatever — but I don't want to speculate," Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said told the media after the game. "We'll see what happens."

Even before Wright went down, Arizona's defense struggled. The Wildcats scored two defensive touchdowns, but gave up 525 total yards to UTSA, which returned two offensive starters.

A former two-star recruit, Wright swept the Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defender last season. He also was the Pac-12 defensive player of the year and a consensus All-American.