Oklahoma’s first week of the season has already been complicated by a growing list of injuries, and the latest hit lands on a player the Sooners expected to plug in immediately.
Sooners On SI reported Tuesday that Ryan Fodje, who had just been elevated as the replacement starting center, suffered a knee injury that will keep him out at least for Friday’s opener against UTEP. The same report also said projected starting wide receiver Parker Livingstone is in concussion protocol, with his availability for Friday still unclear.
Livingstone’s status had already raised eyebrows when he appeared Monday on the initial depth chart as a co-starter with sophomore Elijah Thomas. That came as a surprise because Livingstone was widely expected to be a starter right away after transferring from Texas during the offseason.
At the time, Thomas looked like the possible reason for the shared spot. Now, the “OR” next to their names makes a lot more sense.
The 6-4 receiver arrives in Norman with real production behind him. Last season, as a redshirt freshman, Livingstone caught passes from Arch Manning and finished with 516 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian later said at SEC Media Days that the Longhorns moved on from Livingstone over the offseason to make room for transfer portal additions. Oklahoma benefitted from that decision, landing a receiver who was supposed to give John Mateer another weapon and bring extra juice to the Red River Rivalry.
Livingstone also wanted to join the closest playoff contender to his hometown of Lucas, Texas.
For now, though, his OU debut may be pushed back.
The injuries have quickly become a concern for a Sooners team that has not even played a snap yet. Starting center Jake Maikkula first strained his MCL and is out until at least Week 2 against Michigan. Then Fodje went down with a knee injury on the same day he was identified as Maikkula’s replacement, leaving Oklahoma short-handed in the middle before the season opener even arrives.
Knee injuries can happen in a flash, but Livingstone’s concussion protocol adds another layer to the problem. It also feeds a familiar frustration for Oklahoma fans, who have watched injury issues pile up throughout Brent Venables’ tenure.
With so much experience and talent on the roster, Oklahoma was supposed to spend the early part of the season building momentum. Instead, the Sooners are already trying to survive the opening stretch while managing a list of injuries that keeps getting longer.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Just Rewarded Five Under-The-Radar Sooners Before The Opener
Ahead of the 2026 season opener, Oklahoma made one of those quiet but meaningful roster moves that says plenty about a programs internal culture. The Sooners awarded scholarships to five walk-ons, giving well-earned recognition to offensive linemen Sean Hutton and Kenneth Wermy, defensive back Casen Calmus, wide receiver Trey Brown and kicker Liam Evans. A few of them were already showing up on the initial depth chart, which made the decision feel less like a formality and more like a nod to players who have already pushed their way into the conversation.
For a team trying to sharpen its identity before the games begin, these kinds of moves matter because they reinforce the standard inside the building. Walk-ons rarely get the spotlight, but they often set the tone in practice, on special teams and in the kind of depth work every season eventually demands. Oklahomas decision leaves no doubt that these five have earned real trust, and it also adds another layer of intrigue to how the Sooners roster will sort itself out once the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Just Got A Jordan Brand Flex Fans Will Envy
The Sooners got a little extra shine this week when the program received the upcoming Air Jordan 9 Space Jam colorway before it officially hits stores. It is the kind of early sneaker flex that tends to land well in a football facility, especially with a Friday night matchup against UTEP giving the team a chance to wear them right away.
Oklahoma will lace up the shoes for that game, adding a bit of Jordan Brand buzz to an otherwise straightforward nonconference week. For fans who have been eyeing the release, the wait is not long, with the pair scheduled to arrive on September 19 through the Nike SNKRS app and select retailers. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Witten Is Already Changing More Than Oklahomas Tight Ends
Jason Wittens move onto the Oklahoma staff has been one of the more intriguing developments of the Sooners offseason, and it is already apparent why the program wanted him in the building. Making his collegiate coaching debut as tight ends coach after replacing Joe Jon Finley, Witten has brought a different kind of credibility to the room, one rooted in years of playing and preparing at the highest level. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and players have both pointed to the effect he has had on the tight ends group and on the teams broader culture.
What has stood out most is that Wittens influence has not stopped at one position. His presence has started to reach other players as Oklahoma gets ready for UTEP, giving the Sooners another voice with real weight in a locker room still taking shape under the new arrangement. For a program looking to sharpen details and build habits early, that kind of cross-room impact can matter as much as any scheme tweak, and it helps explain why Wittens arrival has quickly become more than a simple coaching hire. [Read more 🡒]