TCU Injury Report: Key Absences Ahead of Grambling

TCU football returns to Fort Worth tonight looking to reset after its season-opening loss to North Carolina, but the Horned Frogs won’t be at full strength against Grambling State.

The biggest offensive absence is wide receiver Jordan Dwyer, who is expected to miss another game because of a foot injury.

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Dwyer was TCU’s leading returning receiver from 2025 after catching 54 passes for 730 yards, so his absence removes one of the most experienced weapons from the passing game.

TCU will also be without Dozie Ezukanma, who has been dealing with a head injury. That further thins a receiving corps that already needs more consistency after an uneven showing in Dublin.

The Frogs should still have enough playmakers available.

Quarterback Jaden Craig is expected to start after completing 20 of 32 passes for 175 yards against North Carolina. Running back Jeremy Payne also enters the game healthy after delivering TCU’s best offensive performance in the opener with 142 rushing yards on 25 carries.

Payne figures to remain a major part of the plan, especially with TCU missing experienced receiving depth.

Defensively, Zach Chapman is the main player to watch before kickoff. His availability has remained less certain, and his status could affect TCU’s edge rotation against a Grambling offense that enters Fort Worth 2-0.

There are no significant publicly reported injuries on the Grambling side heading into the matchup.

That puts most of the injury attention on TCU.

The good news is that the Horned Frogs’ core offensive pieces - Craig, Payne, Ed Small and Ka’Morreun Pimpton - are expected to be available. The bigger question is whether TCU can generate more explosive plays without Dwyer and Ezukanma in the receiver rotation.

For Sonny Dykes’ team, tonight is about more than simply getting into the win column.

The Frogs need cleaner execution, better rhythm in the passing game and fewer mistakes after scoring only 10 points against North Carolina.

The injury situation doesn’t help, but it also doesn’t change the expectation.

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TCU should control this game.

Kickoff against Grambling State is set for 7 p.m. CT at Amon G. Carter Stadium.