Oklahoma’s injury picture got a little clearer Wednesday, and it still leaves the Sooners with plenty to sort out before Saturday’s trip to No. 24 Florida in The Swamp.
Cornerback Eli Bowen and safety Peyton Bowen are both listed as questionable on the SEC’s initial availability report, along with tight end Rocky Beers. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network.
Eli Bowen has been out since the Sept. 26 loss to Georgia after hurting his ankle in practice in the days before the Red River Rivalry. In his absence, sophomore Trystan Haynes has taken over the starting spot.
Even if Bowen is able to go, Oklahoma’s secondary is still stretched thin. Jacobe Johnson and Dakoda Fields remain out, leaving the Sooners short on depth at cornerback.
Peyton Bowen’s situation is also worth watching. He was injured while making an interception against Mississippi State on Oct. 24, and although he did not start last week against South Carolina, he still logged limited snaps in that loss.
The Sooners’ offensive line is dealing with its own issues. Ryan Fodje is set to miss a third straight game after getting hurt in the second half against Kentucky.
Guard Eddy Pierre-Louis is doubtful and has now missed the last four games. Center Jake Maikkula, meanwhile, is probable after sitting out the loss to South Carolina, when Caleb Nitta got the start in his place.
Beers’ status could carry extra weight for an Oklahoma offense that is about to play its first game under interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten. Beers has been one of the Sooners’ most productive targets, ranking second on the team with 34 catches for 446 yards and leading Oklahoma with four touchdown receptions.
The receiving group is banged up too. Trell Harris is still out, Elijah Thomas is doubtful, and Jer’Michael Carter is questionable. Oklahoma also remains without tight end Trynae Washington.
On defense, linebacker Cole Sullivan is still out after getting hurt in the win over Mississippi State, while defensive end Kenny Ozowalu is questionable.
Florida has its own notable name on the report. Wide receiver Vernell Brown III is listed as doubtful after a setback in practice kept him out of last week’s game against Georgia, even though the Gators had hoped to have him back.
The rest of Florida’s report lists Evan Chieca, Jeramiah McCloud, Jaden Robinson and Emeka Ugorki as out. Emmanuel Oyebadejo and Bailey Stockton are questionable.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Defense Suddenly Has A Brent Venables Problem
Oklahomas defense took an uncharacteristic step backward against South Carolina, and Brent Venables did not try to soften the blow afterward. The Sooners gave up 521 total yards in a game that exposed basic issues across the field, with tackling at the center of the breakdown. Venables pointed to fundamentals as the problem, and the numbers backed up the frustration, with Oklahoma missing 25 tackles in the loss.
Even in a rough afternoon for the defense, there were a few individual bright spots on the other side of the ball. Ivan Carreon turned in a career day with 88 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Sooners something to build on offensively. On defense, though, the spotlight fell on linebacker Kip Lewis, who led the team in missed tackles and finished with a low performance grade, leaving Oklahoma with more questions than answers as it tries to clean up the issues that surfaced so suddenly. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Suddenly Has A Major Lineup Problem Before Oklahoma
Florida is heading into its matchup with Oklahoma with more than one hole to patch, and the timing could hardly be worse. Starting defensive tackle Jeramiah McCloud will miss the game because of a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, while several other players are also dealing with injury concerns that could force the Gators to reshuffle both sides of the ball.
Vernell Brown III and Emmanuel Oyebadejo are among the names listed as doubtful or questionable, leaving Florida to sort through replacements before facing a Sooners team that will be paying close attention to every change. The Gators are expecting lineup adjustments across the roster, and the final availability report will go a long way toward showing just how deep the disruption runs. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Heads To Florida With One Huge Offensive Mystery
Oklahoma heads to Gainesville this week for a rare regular-season trip to Florida, a matchup that brings the Sooners to campus for the first time against the No. 25 Gators. The timing adds another layer of intrigue, because this is not just another road test for a team trying to steady itself away from home.
The biggest question hanging over the trip is on offense, where Oklahoma recently moved on from coordinator Ben Arbuckle and handed play-calling duties to tight ends coach Jason Witten. There is also uncertainty at quarterback, with possible changes still not confirmed, leaving the Sooners to sort out both leadership and rhythm before they face a ranked opponent in a difficult setting. [Read more 🡒]