Running back injuries are piling up for Texas.
Despite warming up on the field in pregame, freshmen Malcolm Brown (turf toe) and Joe Bergeron (hamstring) don’t look like they’ll be playing today against Missouri. To make matters worse, senior back Fozzy Whittaker suffered an awkward-looking knee injury early in the first quarter. Whittaker planted his right leg and his knee just buckled. Sideline reports say he’s out for the game.
That’s obviously a tough blow for Whittaker, who has been a really versatile athlete for the Longhorns offense this season. Whittaker’s been around the program a long time and has never had the benefit of being consistently healthy.
On another level, it it forces offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin to shift some things around in his playbook. Texas still has Cody Johnson to run north and south, but we’re already seeing speedster D.J. Monroe find his way into the game in different ways. Jeremy Hills is in too.
This isn’t even including the fact that receiver Jaxon Shipley is out with a knee injury as well.
This is a Texas team that has averaged over 400 yards rushing over the past two games. They probably weren’t going to reach that number for a third straight week, but this has suddenly turned into a game that could rely a lot more on freshman quarterback David Ash.
UPDATED 2:30 p.m. ET: Missouri running back and the Big 12’s leading rusher Henry Josey planted awkwardly on a sideline tackle late in the third quarter and remained down on the field for several minutes clutching his left knee. He was eventually carted off the field and the prognosis doesn’t look good.
Josey was having a rough day overall -- 11 carries for 19 yards -- but was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker award. Josey had over 1100 yards and nine touchdowns heading into today.
But Texas’ injuries and overall offensive ineffectiveness cost them the game, as Mizzou went on to win 17-5.
