Last updated at 2:10 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 26
The Texas Longhorns were struggling to find any semblance of production on the offensive side of the ball, clinging to a minimal lead over the Tennessee Volunteers. Then, Texas fans received one of the most daunting updates possible: Cam Coleman was injured.
Coleman had been spotted heading into the medical tent after quarterback Arch Manning had connected with him for an astonishing 30-yard reception.
The wideout then sat out of the Horns' next offensive drive, in which the team earned an abysmal two yards on three plays before punting the ball away (again).
ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge shared that Coleman had been evaluated in the tent after the big-time catch, but she didn't have any additional information about the Horns' new star wideout beyond the fact that the team was going to continue to evaluate him further.
The offense was already struggling to find its footing, even with Coleman lining up out wide. Without him, the pressure on the Horns would only be amplified sevenfold.
Before exiting the game, Coleman had only earned the one 30-yard catch, with fellow wideouts Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V leading the receiving room through the start of the game.
Jermaine Bishop Jr. has chance for breakout game with Cam Coleman sidelined
With Coleman sidelined, Wingo and Mosley would undoubtedly see an increase in reps and targets, but it also meant that true freshman Jermaine Bishop Jr. had the opportunity to prove his worth in the wide receiver room.
He had already seen two receptions for 34 yards by the time Coleman went down, and it should come as no surprise if those numbers skyrocket through the final minutes of the third quarter and the entirety of the fourth.
The Longhorns' running game truly struggled against the relentless Tennessee defensive line, putting a lot of the work on Manning's shoulders, which would also be increased with his go-to guy stuck on the sidelines.
Through the first three games of the season, Coleman led the Horns' wideout room in receiving yards and touchdowns, with 178 yards for four TDs through the air. Wingo had 165 yards and two touchdowns to his name, and Mosley had 130 yards before Texas kicked off against Tennessee, but had yet to find the end zone.
Bishop, who didn't record any stats against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 2, had earned 47 yards on four catches before making his SEC debut agains the Volunteers on Saturday.
Bishop is undeniably a great option to have as a backup and has all the makings to be a star in the near future, but missing Coleman from the lineup was the exact kind of loss the Horns couldn't afford to see as they struggled against the Vols' defense.
After missing a couple of drives, Coleman returned to the game, but the Horns continued to run the ball and Manning continued to target Wingo over his usual top receiver.
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