TCU and No. 10 BYU will both be missing important contributors Saturday, with the Cougars carrying the longer injury list into Fort Worth.
The injury report could play a major role when TCU hosts No. 10 BYU on Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium, and the Cougars enter the matchup dealing with considerably more confirmed absences.
BYU’s initial Big 12 availability report lists eight players as out, including multiple contributors on the offensive line and in the secondary. TCU has seven players listed out, while two defensive linemen remain questionable.
The biggest TCU name to watch is Zach Chapman.
The senior edge rusher is listed as questionable after missing the Horned Frogs’ first four games.
Chapman has been viewed as one of TCU’s better pass-rushing options, so getting him back against BYU would give the defensive front a significant boost. Defensive tackle Perry Cole Jr. is also questionable.
There is good news at linebacker.
Max Carroll, who left the UCF loss early, is not listed on the current injury report, which points toward his availability Saturday.
TCU will, however, be without linebacker Michael Short, who has been one of the Frogs’ more productive defenders with 16 tackles this season.
The Horned Frogs also list the following players as out:
- CB Devondre McGee
- RB Joe Pitchford
- K Kyle Lemmermann
- OL Devan Robison
- OL Creece Brister
- WR Cooper Reid Yahoo Sports
That means TCU enters Saturday missing contributors at linebacker, offensive line and kicker, while waiting on two important defensive linemen.
BYU’s list is even longer.
The Cougars have eight players officially listed as out:
- CB Jonathan Kabeya
- S Raider Damuni
- RB Sione Moa
- LB Siale Esera
- OL Caden McKee
- OL Andrew Gentry
- OL Ethan Thomason
- K Brody Laga Deseret News
The offensive-line losses stand out.
Andrew Gentry was a starter in BYU’s previous game, and losing Gentry along with McKee and Thomason cuts into the Cougars’ depth up front. That could become especially important if TCU gets Chapman back and can generate more pressure without having to blitz heavily.
The secondary is also thinner without Raider Damuni and Jonathan Kabeya.
One positive for BYU is cornerback Kevin Doe, who is listed as probable.
Safety Faletau Satuala is also healthy enough to play. He underwent surgery for a fractured right foot in June but has appeared in all three games for BYU this season.
The injury matchup creates two obvious areas for TCU to attack.
First, BYU’s offensive-line depth is compromised. If Chapman returns, the Frogs should have an opportunity to test that group immediately.
Second, BYU’s defensive backfield is missing bodies. That puts more pressure on the Cougars to hold up against Jaden Craig and TCU’s passing game without allowing explosive plays.
TCU has its own concerns, particularly at linebacker and along the offensive line, but BYU’s current report is more extensive.
There is one important caveat: the Big 12 will issue a final availability report 90 minutes before kickoff, so questionable and probable designations can still change before Saturday night.
The key thing to monitor now is Chapman for TCU and whether BYU has any late changes to that offensive-line group when the final report drops Saturday.
