Texas Football: Jacoby Jones, Whittington out with significant injuries

Entering this season, it looked like we could be starting at breakout campaigns for the likes of Texas football redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jordan Whittington and senior defensive end/edge rusher Jacoby Jones, among others that have been around on the Forty Acres for a while now. But Whittington and Jones were also starting to show some flashes in recent weeks for new head coach Steve Sarkisian and this Texas squad.

Both Whittington and Jones went down with reported injuries (confirmed by 247Sports) over the weekend during the loss in the Red River Rivalry game to the Oklahoma Sooners. And both injuries required surgery this week.

This is really unfortunate timing for both Whittington and Jones following what could be the biggest game of the regular season for the Longhorns in Red River over the weekend.

Just as it felt like the Longhorns could be getting more production from Jones especially, bad injury news was delivered this week. Jones suffered a foot injury that required surgery this week. He’s now reportedly walking on crutches following the procedure early this week.

Texas football reportedly down Jordan Whittington and Jacoby Jones for a long while

There is reportedly no timetable set for Jones’ return for the Longhorns following this foot procedure.

Meanwhile, Whittington went down with a reported clavicle injury that he suffered late in the game against the Sooners. Whittington went down with an apparent upper-body injury in the loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 9. He would eventually head to the locker room after coming down with this clavicle injury. Whittington also had surgery on his injury this week.

This report also indicated that Whittington will be “out for a while” for the Longhorns following this injury.

The injury news for Whittington is especially tragic given his track record in the previous two years in his college career. Whittington missed essentially all of his true freshman campaign, and a lot of his sophomore campaign last season due to injury.

Texas should have the depth to make up for the loss of Jones coming off the edge. He often started for the Longhorns at the Jack position off the edge this fall. And Whittington was one of the starting wideouts for Texas alongside Joshua Moore and Xavier Worthy so far this season.

We are now likely to see more out of sophomore edge rusher Alfred Collins and former walk-on Jett Bush in place of Jones coming off the edge. And there could be a mix that includes the likes of Al’Vonte Woodard, Marcus Washington, and Kai Money to take the reps at wide receiver that Whittington would otherwise.

Whittington registered career highs in essentially every receiving stat category so far this season. Texas is losing 24 catches for 359 receiving yards and three touchdown catches with him apparently out long term.