On the Thursday SEC-mandated injury report update, Texas football had some positive updates for a couple of key players on the defensive side of the ball. Texas had a couple of players upgraded with their status for the matchup on Senior Day on Nov. 23 against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Which key Texas football players could return from injuries in Week 13 vs. Kentucky?
For the Week 13 injury report for the Longhorns vs. Kentucky, Texas has four players listed with the status of "out". All four of those injured Longhorns players listed as "out" for the Kentucky game this weekend are those who are out for the rest of the season.
Texas has three running backs who have missed most or all of the 2024 season on the injury report this week, including sophomore CJ Baxter Jr., freshman Christian Clark, and senior Velton Gardner.
Sophomore safety Derek Williams Jr. is also out for the rest of the season for the Longhorns due to a lower-body injury he suffered in the Red River Rivalry game in mid-October against Oklahoma.
Here are three key injury updates for the Longhorns for the Week 13 matchup vs. Kentucky in Austin at DKR.
Morice Blackwell Jr., LB
Senior linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. was listed on Texas's initial SEC injury report on Wednesday (Nov. 20) with the status of "questionable". He was later upgrade to "probable" on the Thursday injury report update.
Blackwell missed Texas's last game against the Arkansas Razorbacks due to an injury. In his Thursday press conference on Nov. 21, Sarkisian said that he's hopeful Texas can get Blackwell back from injury for the Kentucky game this weekend.
"Those two guys are integral parts to our program, not only on offense and defense but on special teams. They're critical. So, hopefully, we can get both of those guys back."Steve Sarkisian
Texas's win over the Florida Gators on Nov. 9 was the last game Blackwell played for the Longhorns this fall. He's registered a career-high 21 combined tackles and five defensive stops over nine games played in the 2024 season.