Longhorns Get Major Injury Update Before Missouri Showdown

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Steve Sarkisian saw this coming and three days before the SEC released its initial injury report, he was already preparing people for what it would say.

“Obviously, we’ll be undermanned Saturday, but I have no doubt in my mind that the group that will take the field will be ready to play,” Sarkisian said Monday.

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He also framed the broader challenge ahead.

“Big picture, November is obviously a critical month for any team, but most notably for us, three of the four are on the road,” Sarkisian said.

Wednesday evening put numbers behind the warning. Texas released its initial injury report for Saturday’s trip to Columbia with nine Longhorns listed, four ruled out and five questionable.

The players ruled out are the ones already known. Running back Hollywood Smothers, offensive lineman Trevor Goosby, tight end Nick Townsend and edge rusher Richard Wesley will not play. Goosby, the first-team All-SEC left tackle, is out for the season with a knee injury, while Smothers went down against Mississippi State. Reports suggested his absence could extend well beyond this week.

The questionable group includes the player who could decide Saturday's game and Colin Simmons leads that list. The All-American edge rusher has missed two straight games with a high ankle sprain suffered against Florida and Texas has been hoping to get him back for this stretch. He went through warmups before the Mississippi State game and participated in drills at nearly full speed, suggesting he was close to returning.

Wide receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman are also questionable after both left that win with shoulder injuries. Neither finished the game. Defensive backs Kade Phillips and Graceson Littleton round out the group. Phillips is reportedly dealing with a groin injury, while Littleton was the subject of season-ending speculation earlier this week.

Littleton being listed as questionable rather than out is the most encouraging development on the report.

Missouri's report tells a different story. It lists three players out: running back Malae Fonoti, offensive lineman Josh Atkins and tight end Gavin Hoffman. Nobody is listed as questionable. That is about as clean as an injury report gets in November and it means Texas should expect the Tigers to be close to full strength. 

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Both teams enter at 6-2 and 3-2 in conference play, with Texas ranked No. 7 and Missouri No. 19. The loser will take a significant hit to its College Football Playoff hopes and Texas still has a road trip to LSU waiting after this game.

Kickoff is Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.