Texas football vs Alabama full injury report for Week 2

In roughly six hours, No. 11 Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian will kick off their biggest non-conference game of the 2023 regular season against head coach Nick Saban and the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide. Texas hits the road to travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama in the back end of a home-and-home series this weekend.

The first meeting between Texas and Alabama in this home-and-home series resulted in a win for the Crimson Tide last season at DKR in Austin by a narrow one-point margin (final score of 20-19) over the Longhorns.

Sark and Texas bring a record of 1-0 (0-0 Big 12) heading into this gigantic matchup against Alabama after a closer-than-expected 37-10 win at home at DKR in the opener on Sep. 2 over the Rice Owls.

Alabama also brings in a record of 1-0 (0-0 SEC) after a commanding 56-7 win at home in Tuscaloosa over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in its season opener on Sep. 2.

There are some bumps and bruises that both teams are dealing with heading into this weekend’s showdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Here’s a look at the full injury report for the Week 2 matchup on Sep. 9 at 6 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa between No. 11 Texas and No. 3 Alabama.

Texas football injury report vs. Alabama

• DJ Campbell, IOL
• Cole Hutson, IOL
• CJ Baxter Jr., RB
• Morice Blackwell Jr., LB

Sophomore interior offensive lineman DJ Campbell and true freshman running back CJ Baxter Jr. were both banged up for Texas in the season-opening win over Rice. Baxter suffered a rib injury early in the game against Rice, where he landed on the football awkwardly.

But it looks like Baxter is ready to go for the Longhorns this weekend against the Tide. In his Thursday press conference on Sep. 7, Sark announced that Baxter “looked great” during practice this week. Sark said he’s “fired up for him to got cut it loose” against Alabama this weekend.

Campbell is also available for the Longhorns in Week 2 after suffering a lower-body injury in the second half against Rice. A Rice defender rolled up on Campbell’s leg, causing him to leave the game due to injury early in the second half last weekend.

Campbell practiced most of the week for the Longhorns, splitting first-team reps at right guard with fellow sophomore interior offensive lineman Cole Hutson. In his press conference this week, Sark mentioned that Hutson, Campbell, and redshirt freshman IOL Neto Umeozulu will get reps against Alabama on Sep. 9.

In the season opener against Rice, Hutson missed action due to an injury he dealt with late in fall practice. Hutson will also be available against Alabama, as he is bound to get his first offensive snaps of the 2023 campaign.

Last but not least, junior linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. is the only player who is out or doubtful for the Longhorns. The third-year linebacker and former converted safety Blackwell suffered a knee injury in fall camp that was expected to keep him out for the first few weeks of the season.

Alabama injury report

• Malachi Moore, STAR
• Jaylen Key, FS
• Emmanuel Henderson, WR
• DeVonta Smith, S
• Jihaad Campbell, LB

The two biggest injuries Alabama is dealing with heading into the matchup against Texas are senior grad transfer safety Jaylen Key and senior nickelback Malachi Moore. According to BamaOnLine, Moore and Key are both listed as “questionable” heading into Week 2.

It’s worth noting that Key and Moore both have injuries that are listed as “undisclosed” on the latest reports on Sep. 9.

Saban mentioned in a press conference this week that Moore was able to practice “some”. Moore is reportedly the most likely of the banged-up Alabama DBs to suit up against Texas this weekend.

Key is in a similar situation to Moore regarding his status for Alabama in Week 2. Saban said earlier this week in a press conference that Key was also able to get some practice reps in this week.

"“Just how much they’re able to practice and how close to 100 percent they can get by game time will be the big question that we’ll have to answer. That probably is not something we can comment until we get to that point.”"

Sophomore backup linebacker Jihaad Campbell is reportedly listed as “probable” for Alabama in Week 2 as he’s dealing with a knee issue.

The two Alabama players that are listed as either “doubtful” or “out” for the Tide against the Longhorns this weekend are junior free safety DeVonta Smith and sophomore wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. Smith is dealing with a foot issue, and Henderson is out with a hip injury this weekend.