Brent Venables Provides ‘Frustrating’ Injury Update for Oklahoma
The Sooners have been plagued with injury early and when a lot of those players will return is a mystery, including for the head coach.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables provided an injury update during his weekly news conference on Tuesday ahead of the Sooners’ Week 3 matchup against Tulane. The Sooners have been dealing with numerous injuries this season, even though it’s only Week 3. On Monday night, during his coach’s show, Venables revealed that offensive lineman Geirean Hatchett will be out for the rest of the season after having surgery on his bicep.
Hatchett already had to step up Week 1 because of an injury suffered to someone else in Week 1. Starting center Branson Hickman has played only 10 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus, after leaving in the first quarter of the Sooners’ season opener against Temple because of an ankle injury. He was suited up Saturday night but did not see the field at all against Houston. When he went down against Temple, Hatchett had to move from guard to center for the night.
Hickman started 33 games in three seasons at SMU, where he transferred from this past season to presumably take over OU’s center job. He was an All-AAC Second Team member last season.
He was a little better (Monday) than he was last week,” Venables said. “We’ll see. I’m literally not being evasive. I don’t know. We’re hopeful. And we really are. We could use a guy that’s started 35 games in his career. But he’s closer.”
Hickman isn’t the only offensive lineman OU may or may not have for its last test before SEC play starts against Tennessee on Sept. 21. Right tackle Jake Taylor was listed as OU’s starting right tackle on the initial depth chart before Week 1 but hasn’t touched the field yet this season. Again, like Hickman, his status against Tulane is questionable.
“I’m hopeful,” Venables said.
Venables also said backup center Joshua Bateswas playing Saturday with “one arm” but “did some good things.”
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables provided an update on the team’s injury situation during his weekly press conference ahead of their Week 3 matchup against Tulane. Venables noted that offensive lineman Geirean Hatchett, who had surgery on his bicep, will miss the rest of the season.
Discussing the status of offensive lineman Andrew Raym, Venables mentioned that Raym is improving but still uncertain for the upcoming game. “He was a little better Monday than last week,” Venables said, adding that they are hopeful to have Raym back soon, especially given his 35 career starts.
Right tackle Jake Taylor, listed as the starter in Week 1 but yet to play this season, is also questionable for the Tulane game. Venables remains optimistic about his return as well.
Venables also revealed that backup center Joshua Bates played in the last game with an injury but still managed to perform well.
The injury issues extend beyond the offensive line. Wide receivers Jayden Gibson and Jalil Farooq are out long-term, while Nic Anderson has not yet played this season. Jaquaize Pettaway returned from a hamstring injury but missed part of last week’s practice due to a knee issue, leaving him only partially available for the game against Houston.
Those guys, they’re gonna have to play,” Venables said. “They’ve played a little bit, not as much as the first group of guys. But you look at the initial depth chart, they’re either 3s or 4s when we had everybody available. They’ve moved up. Not necessarily from anything else but just by chance because of the circumstances.”
And ahead of next week’s showdown with Tennessee, Venables and the Sooners will be subject to divulging the Sooners’ full injury picture on the SEC’s weekly mandatory “availability report.”
Outside of those Venables has already announced will miss an extensive amount of time, the status and return time for any other player on OU’s injury report is still rather unknown. As frustrating as it is for the Sooner faithful, especially after such a poor offensive performance, to know when potential answers to problems could return, try being the man in charge of fixing it all.
“That’s not a popular answer, and it’s definitely not well-received in our offices, I can assure you,” Venables said. “Imagine being the athletic trainer who has to come in every day delivering bad news like Dr. Death. He gets questioned a lot—‘What does that mean? Is he playing today? Will he be available this week?’ And often, they don’t have clear answers. But if anyone else is frustrated about who’s available this week, they’ll have to join the club.”
