Texas Longhorns star redshirt junior left tackle Trevor Goosby was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee after sustaining an injury in practice on Monday evening. Yeah, a bone bruise. The good news is they avoided a worst-case scenario, but let me tell you, that’s still a massive hit. There’s no current timetable for the 6’7, 325-pound blindside protector’s return, and with the high-profile matchup against No. 1 Ohio State looming in Austin just 25 days away, that’s got to be a gut punch.
A Blindside Protector Down
Goosby isn’t just ‘a’ player, he’s a game-changer. This guy was a preseason first-team All-SEC selection and is already projected as one of the top tackles in the 2027 NFL Draft class. We’re talking about one of the most important players on the team, period. His job? Protecting the blind side of redshirt junior quarterback Arch Manning. He did it at an elite level in 2025, his first season as a starter, allowing only three sacks and three quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus. His run blocking? Even better. Losing that kind of talent, especially with such a massive game on the horizon, feels like walking a tightrope without a net.
The Longhorns’ Scramble Drill
So, what’s the plan if Goosby has to sit out early in the season? Texas will have to shuffle that offensive line, and fast, to get the five best guys out there. Luckily, they’ve got some options. Redshirt junior right tackle Melvin Siani, a transfer who stands at 6’6, 317 pounds, doesn’t have Goosby’s length but he’s played left tackle before and didn’t allow any sacks there last season. That’s a huge luxury to have, someone who can step in. If Siani slides over to left tackle, junior Brandon Baker could return to the right tackle spot he played last year. That opens up a competition at right guard, with fifth-year senior Cole Hutson looking like the favorite to get his role back. With sixth-year transfer Laurence Seymore at left guard and fifth-year senior Connor Robertson at center, they’re hoping for a competitive unit until Goosby’s back.
But let’s be real, beating those Buckeyes is going to be significantly more difficult without Goosby out there. His return timeline is a huge variable, with NFL players with similar bone bruises sometimes missing several practices or up to three games. The season opener against Texas State is in two and a half weeks, but everyone’s eyes are on that Ohio State clash. The hope is that Goosby will be back by the SEC opener against the Volunteers in Knoxville, 39 days away, because the nine-game conference schedule is ultimately what will define their season. Until then, every practice and every update on that left knee is going to feel like an eternity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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