Texas Football: 4 key injured Longhorns players heading into UH game

Ryan Watts, CB

The other starter for the Longhorns who suffered an injury in the win over Kansas on Sep. 30 was redshirt junior boundary corner Ryan Watts. In the first half against the Jayhawks, Watts suffered a leg injury that has kept him sidelined for the rest of the Kansas game and against Oklahoma on Oct. 7.

We got some positive news regarding Watts’ status ahead of the Houston game this weekend. In his Monday press conference, Sark said Watts participated in practice on Oct. 16 after being limited during the bye week.

The report from Vogel of TFB Texas also included Watts among the players he expects to “give it a go” for the Longhorns against Houston this weekend.

It would be huge for the Longhorns to get Watts back against Houston. While Texas is a sizable favorite in the opening betting odds against Houston on the road on Oct. 21, the Cougars receiving corps is a skilled bunch. Houston has three or four receivers that would start on most Big 12 teams, highlighted by Matthew Golden and Sam Brown.

Oklahoma exploited Texas in the underneath passing game, registering nearly 200 yards through the air on short and intermediate attempts. That is the most passing yards on underneath routes the Longhorns have allowed this season.

Watts’ potential return to the secondary this weekend against Houston would be a big boost at boundary corner.