Oklahoma State is heading into Saturday’s Big 12 opener at West Virginia with a clean availability report.
The league’s first injury update of the week came out Wednesday night, and OSU did not have anyone listed as unavailable. That means the Cowboys are expected to be at full strength when they open conference play.
That’s a welcome development for a team that has spent the early part of the season managing some bumps and bruises. Defensive tackle Imar Mateos and offensive linemen Braydon Nelson and Joseph Hanson were all labeled questionable, but the report released Wednesday night cleared them.
Coach Eric Morris said he was “excited to get Chris Barnes back” after Barnes injured a shoulder against Murray State. Barnes returned against Tulsa, but he did not see action in the past two games. He was scratched against Oregon and sat out against the FCS opponent as a precaution.
Dices at left guard and moved to right guard against Murray State.
Mateos suffered a second-quarter injury when Oregon scored on a 1-yard run on first-and-goal. The defensive tackle came off the bench at Tulsa and started against the Ducks.
Morris said Mateos pleaded to return against Oregon, but did not see the field. The coaching staff was able to rest Mateos against Murray State.
The OSU coach said Nelson and Hanson practiced this week.
Nelson is one of 16 players who transferred to OSU from North Texas during the offseason. He primarily played left tackle and earned All-American Conference second-team honors. He has not played this season.
Hanson started the first two games at right guard before getting injured in the Oregon victory.
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