Oklahoma’s secondary is in absolute shambles heading into the Red River Rivalry game against Texas this Saturday, with cornerback Eli Bowen twisting his ankle in Thursday practice and now questionable for kickoff. This isn’t just a bump or bruise, folks, this is a full-blown emergency for the Sooners who are already reeling from injuries.
The Sooners’ Secondary Is About To Get Torched
Losing Bowen is a gut punch, but the real kicker is that fellow cornerback Jacobe Johnson has already been officially ruled out for Saturday’s game. Think about that for a second: two key corners either out or hobbled right before you face one of your biggest rivals. This means Oklahoma will have to lean hard on inexperienced players like Trystan Haynes and Dakoda Fields. Seriously, these guys are going to be staring down Texas’s receiving corps, including Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, and that’s a seriously tough ask when your defensive backfield is suddenly running on fumes. You know Texas is licking their chops looking at this matchup.
A Full-Blown Injury Nightmare for Oklahoma
It gets worse, folks. Bowen and Johnson are just the tip of the iceberg for Oklahoma. The final injury report listed a shocking seven Sooners as completely OUT for this massive rivalry clash. Beyond Johnson, they’re missing linebacker Taylor Heim, running back Xavier Robinson, tight end Trynae Washington, wide receiver Trell Harris, and offensive linemen Michael Fasusi and Fred Hinton. That’s a brutal hit across the board, impacting multiple units. And if that wasn’t enough, offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis is still doubtful, though tight end Jack Van Dorselaer is at least probable. It’s a miracle they even have a full roster to put on the field at this point.
Texas Isn’t Untouched, But It’s No Comparison
Now, Texas isn’t coming into the Cotton Bowl completely healthy, but their injury report pales in comparison to what Oklahoma is dealing with. The Longhorns have four reserves on their final report. Wide receiver Kaliq Lockett, offensive lineman Jordan Coleman, and defensive lineman Zion Williams have all been ruled out. Defensive lineman Justus Terry is questionable. Yeah, those are some missing pieces, but it’s nothing like the absolute decimation Oklahoma has suffered, especially in critical areas like their secondary.
This Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl is already an absolute powder keg, but with Oklahoma’s roster looking like a MASH unit, especially in the defensive backfield, you just have to wonder how they’re going to hold up. This Saturday, October 12, is going to be a wild one in Dallas, and with so many key players out, it feels like the Sooners are fighting an uphill battle before the whistle even blows.
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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