UCLA defensive back Marcus Rios is out six months and likely the season because he is battling a rare sinus infection.
Rios has undergone six surgeries since October for the infection, the Los Angeles Times reports. They say he will have another operation in two weeks.
Rios told The Times’ Chris Foster how deadly the disease can be.
“It started as a sinus infection last October,” Rios said. “Then they found the fungus infection behind my eye and beneath my brain.
“[The infection is] very rare,” Rios told The Times. “Only 12 people have ever had it and eight of them have died. Two others recovered and then died later.”
Rios played nine games last season as a freshman but experienced migraine headaches before having surgery. He has been in and out of hospitals the entire offseason and has been currently taking antibiotics. He thinks he is out for the season.
Despite the infection, Rios seems to be in good spirits. He took a picture with Sure West Sports’ Mike Finnerty at UCLA’s spring game Saturday night:
Also chatted w/UCLA’s Marcus Rios. The former Cosumnes Oaks star will be out for the year with a rare nasal disease. twitter.com/SureWestSports…
— Mike Finnerty (@SureWestSports) April 28, 2013
Forget football, we’re just hoping he gets past this infection.
Photo via UCLA athletics
