Steve Sarkisian isn’t offering much on Texas injuries right now, and that includes Colin Simmons.
Simmons was spotted on the sideline in the second half of Texas’ Week 3 game against UTSA, and after the game Sarkisian said he didn’t think the issue was too serious. Since then, the Longhorns have given no public update, and the first real checkpoint may not come until the SEC’s availability report is released.
On Monday, Sarkisian made it clear he wasn’t going to entertain injury questions ahead of Week 4.
"There's called an injury report in the SEC, so that's enough of the injury questions," Sarkisian said, hardly allowing the reporter to even finish his question on Simmons.
That leaves Simmons’ status in limbo for now, along with the situation surrounding tight end Nick Townsend and any other injured Longhorns. Sarkisian clearly knows where those players stand, but everyone else is waiting until Wednesday at the earliest, when the first availability report is due.
The speculation around Simmons has centered on turf toe, with the walking boot he wore on Saturday viewed as a precaution. But nothing has been confirmed either way.
Townsend also remains a question mark after missing Saturday’s game against the Roadrunners with a knee injury he suffered during warmups in Week 2.
Texas has leaned on other tight ends to help cover that absence. Spencer Shannon and Emaree Winston have combined for five catches and 52 receiving yards across the Ohio State and UTSA games.
If Simmons can’t go, Texas may need similar next-man-up production off the edge when it faces Tennessee in Week 4. Redshirt edge Zina Umeozulu has already logged nine total tackles through three games, and junior edge Colton Vasek has added five. Transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles has also been a steady presence, piling up 17 total tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
For now, though, the public only gets what Sarkisian chooses to share, and on Monday that meant not much at all. The wait continues until Wednesday.
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Texas Faces A Colin Simmons Concern Ahead Of Tennessee
Texas got a scare in its win over UTSA when edge rusher Colin Simmons left early with a foot injury, and the early concern lingered afterward when he was seen in a walking boot. Head coach Steve Sarkisian initially downplayed the issue, suggesting Simmons would be fine, but the lack of a firm follow-up has kept the situation from settling.
The next real checkpoint comes Wednesday evening, when the first SEC injury report for Texas-Tennessee is released. Until then, Simmons remains one of the biggest questions on the Longhorns defensive side, especially with a trip to face Tennessee carrying plenty of attention and no shortage of stakes. [Read more 🡒]