The health crisis at running back remains a massive storyline.
AUSTIN, Texas — Junior Jaydon Blue and freshman Jerrick Gibson are the only healthy running backs among the top seven players at the position ashe Texas Longhorns released the school’s first SEC-mandated injury report heading into Saturday’s conference opener against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
It’s not news that sophomore CJ Baxter and freshman Christian Clark are out for the season, but the revelations that senior Kansas and SMU transfer Velton Gardner is out with an undisclosed injury, top walk-on Colin Page is doubtful with an undisclosed injury, and sophomore Quintrevion Wisner is questionable with an undisclosed injury are all concerning developments.
Given the massive spread against Mississippi State, the injuries at running back are certainly unlikely to influence Saturday’s outcome beyond those with a gambling interest. And a bye week looms before the Cotton Bowl matchup against Oklahoma, affording the Texas medical staff the opportunity to exercise caution.
That’s unquestionably the case with redshirt junior starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, officially listed as questionable after Sarkisian provided the assessment on Monday — the Texas head coach has been adamant about avoiding any long-term setbacks from rushing Ewers back too quickly and the luxury of having redshirt freshman Arch Manning as the backup only reinforces that approach.
The rest of the injury report includes sophomore safety Derek Williams listed as doubtful with the hamstring injury that kept him out against ULM, sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. questionable with the hip pointer sustained last Saturday, and sophomore safety Jelani McDonald listed as questionable with the ankle injury that has sidelined him for the last two games.