Is Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond playing today? Latest injury Week 9 update

Texas star wideout Isaiah Bond has been battling an aggravated ankle injury since the Longhorns' Week 8 matchup against, and subsequent loss to, the Georgia Bulldogs.

Over the last week, all eyes have been on the Texas wide receiver room in hopes that Bond would be available against the Vanderbilt Commodores, who already upset the then-No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide earlier this season.

However, on Friday evening, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Bond had officially been ruled 'out' for Texas' Week 9 game in Nashville.

Earlier in the week, head coach Steve Sarkisian had hinted at and shared the idea of freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo earning his first career start if Bond couldn't play on Saturday.

The loss of Bond at the wideout position isn't the only major loss Texas has suffered leading into the top-25 SEC matchup. Defensive back Andrew Mukuba is also out for the game against Vanderbilt after suffering a knee injury against Georgia last week.

Backup safeties Jordon Johnson-Rubell and Jahdae Barron are expected to fill the hole left by Mukuba's absence this weekend.

With the absence of Bond on offense and Mukuba on defense, Texas is down a few key players against a team that cannot be underestimated this season. The loss to Georgia hasn't ruined the Longhorns' hopes at a SEC Championship appearance or a top-seed in the College Football Playoffs but a loss to the Commodores may do just that.

No. 5 Texas and No. 25 Vanderbilt are scheduled to kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

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