Texas Football: 3 key Longhorns injury updates heading into Big 12 play

After entering the regular season with a relatively clean bill of health, Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian have suffered some bumps and bruises through the non-conference slate. Texas is dealing with some injuries to key players on the two-deep depth chart ahead of the conference opener on the road this weekend against the Baylor Bears.

Texas hasn’t dealt with many major injuries early in the season or through training camp in August. The Longhorns have experienced a much cleaner bill of health out of the gates this season compared to the injury report early last fall.

The Longhorns must continue to stay healthy through some of the key early conference games. Texas has tough tests ahead against the likes of the Kansas Jayhawks, BYU Cougars, and Oklahoma Sooners in the first five games of Big 12 play.

Texas football players dealing with injuries heading into Big 12 play

During his Monday press conference on Sep. 18, Sark updated the status of a few key injured players ahead of the Big 12 opener on Sep. 23 against Baylor. Here’s a look at the injury updates he provided before Big 12 play begins this coming weekend.

CJ Baxter Jr., RB (Likely available vs. Baylor)

It sounds like the least severe injury the Longhorns are dealing with heading into conference play is the foot issue true freshman running back CJ Baxter Jr. is recovering from. Baxter injured his foot in the Week 2 win on the road over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

And while Baxter practiced for the Longhorns last week, he was held out for precautionary reasons against Wyoming in the Week 3 win at home. In place of Baxter, redshirt sophomore Jonathon Brooks got the start at running back.

Brooks was fantastic for the Longhorns, leading the way with well over 150 rushing yards on 21 carries. He was arguably the Longhorns’ best player on offense last weekend. Brooks has earned a heavy dose of carries heading into Big 12 play with his performances in the last two weeks, including a career day in the win over Wyoming and a strong showing to close out Alabama on Sep. 9.

During his Monday press conference, Sark stated that Baxter practiced on Sep. 19. Baxter will be “monitored” this week in practice leading up to the Baylor game on Sep. 23.

Cole Hutson, IOL (3-4 Weeks)

Multiple reports (including from CJ Vogel of TFB Texas on Sep. 18) this week mention that sophomore interior offensive lineman Cole Hutson is expected to be out at least three or four weeks after suffering an injury in the win over Wyoming on Sep. 16. The exact nature of Hutson’s injury is to be determined. Still, during his Monday press conference, Sark said they hope to have him back by Red River on Oct. 7.

Fellow sophomore interior offensive lineman DJ Campbell took the starting reps at right guard against Wyoming. Campbell took 46 offensive snaps against Wyoming, allowing one sack on 22 pass-blocking snaps.

Kris Ross, DL/EDGE (3-4 Weeks)

The other severe injury the Longhorns suffered in the win over Wyoming on Sep. 16 was to sophomore edge rusher/defensive lineman Kris Ross. After suffering an injury last weekend against the Cowboys, Ross missed the rest of the game.

Ross is also reportedly expected to miss at least three or four weeks, and Sark and this staff are hoping to get him back for Red River against Oklahoma.