While the last thing you want is any player on an injury list, the surprise presence of Texas offensive lineman Cole Hutson on the Longhorns' latest availability report should not raise any concerns as they prepare to face the LSU Tigers.
Hutson, who struggled through a lengthy eligibility case this offseason, officially returned to the Horns' roster just before the season kicked off, but has played fewer than 10 snaps all year.
So, while having the additional depth, much less depth with so much experience, is always great, the possibility of his absence on Saturday should not raise any red flags for Longhorns Nation.
Even with how shaky the Texas O-Line has been at protecting quarterback Arch Manning, Hutson has not even been taking the field alongside the rest of the offensive linemen like center Connor Robertson or now-sidelined left tackle Trevor Goosby.
Longhorns' secondary availability report vs. Tigers is best-case scenario
Of course, Hutson was only listed as "questionable," so there is still a chance that he would be available for the additional depth.
- OUT: Hollywood Smothers (RB), Trevor Goosby (OL), Nick Townsend (TE), Richard Wesley (EDGE)
- QUESTIONABLE: Cole Hutson (OL)
- PROBABLE: Hero Kanu (DL)
Goosby is the only other offensive lineman on the availability report and has been sidelined with a torn patellar tendon and the subsequent reparative surgery. Similarly, Texas running back Hollywood Smothers has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn MCL.
The best news from the report was the update to defensive tackle Hero Kanu's status, upgrading him from questionable to probable.
Both tight end Nick Townsend and edge rusher Richard Wesley are still labeled as "out," with Wesley having been sidelined since the Horns' game against the Florida Gators. Townsend has been on and off the availability report, but most recently took the field against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
LSU's secondary availability report vs. Texas only aids the Tigers
While Hutson's addition to the report wasn't ideal, Texas's availability report was actually good news for the Horns, as was the second report out of Baton Rouge.
- OUT: Dashawn Spears (S), Phillip Wright III (WR), Charles Ross II (LB), Richard Anderson (DT)
- QUESTIONABLE: Whit Weeks (LB)
- PROBABLE: Weston Davis (OT)
LSU sophomore defensive end Gabriel Reliford made his way off the report, providing more depth to the already-dominant Tigers' defensive line. Reliford hasn't seen the field since September, but has 18 total career tackles (six solo) and 0.5 sacks.
Then, the impending return of LSU star linebacker Whit Weeks could wreak even more havoc on the Horns' offense, but he was listed as questionable by head coach Lane Kiffin for a second time this week.
A final availability report will come out on Friday evening at 7:10 p.m. CT. Then, No. 7 Texas and No. 21 LSU are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 14, and the game will be broadcast on ABC.
Add us as a preferred source on Google