Texas DE Colin Simmons To Miss Multiple Weeks with Ankle Injury

Texas Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss several weeks, according to multiple reports.

Simmons, the junior pass rusher from Dallas who is widely regarded as a top 2027 NFL Draft prospect, leads the nation in sacks with 10.5 this season.

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The initial projection is that Simmons could miss the No. 19 Longhorns' next three to four games, beginning with Texas' home game against No. 7 Ole Miss on Oct. 24.

Simmons was carted off the field in Texas' 27-24 loss to Florida on Saturday. He underwent an MRI on his lower leg on Monday that showed a sprain and no structural damage, according to Orangebloods.

Simmons had registered at least one sack in each of the Longhorns' last five games, including his 5.5 sack performance at Tennessee on Sept. 26 that set a new single-game program record.

After 9.0 sacks as a true freshman in 2024 - which earned him Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year award honors - Simmons has posted back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks.

Before Simmons, the Longhorns had not had a player record at least 10 sacks in a season since 2013.

Despite dropping their first two games of the year in frustratingly similar fashion, Texas is favored to beat the Rebels this weekend in Austin, with DraftKings listing the Horns as 3.5-point favorites over the Rebels.

ESPN's Football Power Index gives Texas a 71 percent chance to win the game outright with a win projection of more than a touchdown margin.

Texas running back Hollywood Smothers was another name mentioned in the postgame injury report with an undisclosed injury. His status for the Ole Miss game is to be determined.

Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning also finds himself in heat after two examples of late turnovers forcing the Horns to drop games to Oklahoma and Florida, and thus plummet in the rankings.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Manning remains the projected starter against Ole Miss. However, the decision to increase backup KJ Lacey's workload in practice this week signals that the coaching staff is preparing for a potential change if Manning's struggles continue.

Through six games, Manning has completed approximately 63 percent of his passes, throwing 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Those numbers aren't disastrous, but his mistakes in critical situations have become impossible to ignore.

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"Everything means everything," coach Steve Sarkisian said when asked about evaluating potential roster changes.

It's likely that Sarkisian will need to reevaluate his pass rush as well with Simmons on the mend.