The Texas Longhorns have lost another key player to injury. Running back CJ Baxter injured his hamstring Saturday against UTEP and will miss at least the Week 4 contest against Sam Houston.
Baxter limped off the field during the first Texas offensive drive and headed for the medical tent. He then left the tent and limped to the locker room. The Orlando, Florida, native did not return to the game.
With the Sam Houston game up next and a bye week after that, the Oct. 4 game against the Florida Gators at the Swamp has been tentatively penciled in as a return date.
“On an injury note, obviously Cedric got hurt the first play of the game. Hamstring injury. We don’t think it’s overly significant, but he’ll be out this week from a precautionary standpoint to hopefully get him ready for SEC play.” – Texas coach Steve Sarkisian in his Monday press conference
Baxter missed all of 2024 with a torn lateral collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his right leg that he sustained in last year’s fall camp. Fellow running back Tre Wisner also missed the Texas-El Paso game. Sarkisian did not update Wisner’s injury.
With depth thin, Texas will need to lean on Jerrick Gibson, Christian Clark and James Simon until Wisner, Baxter or both return.
So far this season, the running game has been less than stellar. Texas averaged 3.93 yards a carry against the Miners. An SEC defense will be even more stout. Overall the unit is averaging 4.4 yards per game and just three rushing touchdowns, all by quarterback Arch Manning.
Some of the problem is the offensive line, but there hasn’t been explosiveness or consistency. All of this puts more pressure on Manning’s shoulders.
Baxter leads the team with 104 yards on 24 carries. Wisner is second on the team with 80 yards. Manning has the third-most Longhorns rushing yards with 73.
Christian Clark became the primary back against UTEP, but even he looked to get banged up a bit on Saturday and had to sit out some plays.
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas football loses key offensive weapon to injury before Week 4 matchup
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
