The injury situation of the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room has been a big storyline of the 2024 season. It isn’t the reason why the Sooners have struggled offensively, but it certainly is part of it. During the Rudy’s Coach’s Show, Brent Venables provided an update on his injured wide receivers.
Shared via Colton Sulley of The Oklahoman on X, Venables indicated that a couple of guys could return at some point this season.
[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], who was lost to a knee injury in the 2023 edition of the Red River Showdown, may still play this season, but Venables gave no indication as to a possible return date.
[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] suffered a hamstring injury in fall camp and attempted to come back, but Venables indicated he’s suffered a torn quadriceps muscle.
[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] broke his foot in the week one win over Temple, and Venables mentioned he’s still a few weeks away. Farooq still has a redshirt year available to him. Since he’s only played in one game, he could play in three more regular season games without burning the redshirt year. A few weeks away would put a return closer to the bye week. The Sooners face Alabama and LSU after the bye.
[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] was seen warming up prior to the Sooners’ loss to South Carolina but didn’t get in the game. Venables shared that Burks is day-to-day at this point.
But perhaps the most notable comment in the injury update was more about next year than 2024. Venables shared that each of his dinged-up wide receivers has indicated they’re interested in returning for 2025. That would be huge for next season as Oklahoma would also bring back Jayden Gibson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in fall camp.
Oklahoma will still need to solidify and develop its young depth, but if Anderson, Anthony, Burks, and Farooq all return along with Gibson, that would provide the Sooners with fantastic depth for whoever the offensive coordinator and quarterback are for next year.
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