Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor Bears All-Time Series History

Oklahoma gets set to host the Baylor Bears on Saturday on ESPN+. From @john9williams

Oklahoma and Baylor played one time in the early days of college football, back in 1901, and went 72 years before meeting on the gridiron again. Before the Big 12 was formed in 1996, the Sooners and the Bears only met five times, with the Sooners winning all five nonconference matchups.

Even during an era of football that is one of Oklahoma’s worst, the Sooners beat the Bears every time during the John Blake era. Oklahoma dominated the series until a fateful road trip to Waco in 2011 introduced the world to [autotag]Robert Griffin III[/autotag].

The Sooners were the No. 5 team in the nation at the time, and after the Sooners took a 24-17 early third-quarter lead, the Bears scored 21 unanswered points to go up 38-24. [autotag]Blake Bell[/autotag] scored two of his four rushing touchdowns in the fourth, the second with 51 seconds remaining in the game. It took [autotag]RGIII[/autotag] 43 seconds to march the Bears down the field for a last-minute touchdown to pull off Baylor’s first win over the Oklahoma Sooners ever.

Since 2011, the Sooners are 8-4 vs. the Bears, and the two sides have played some hard-fought games. Five of the 12 matchups have come down to 10 points or fewer, and even in the 2020 27-14 win, it was tightly contested for much of the game.

A historical look at the series between Oklahoma and Baylor via Winsipedia.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides update on Lucas Niang, Blake Bell

Don’t expect these two #Chiefs players back until sometime after the bye week.

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready to welcome back Willie Gay Jr. and Trent McDuffie, but what about the other players on reserve lists?

The team currently has two offensive players who are eligible to return from reserve lists – OT Lucas Niang from the Reserve/PUP list and TE Blake Bell from the Reserve/Injured list. Will they be back anytime soon, though? Their return won’t happen this week, that we know.

Andy Reid was asked about their status during his Wednesday press conference. The was question framed as, “Are these two players you expect to bring back after the bye week?”

“Most likely it would be after the bye, but somewhere after the bye,” Reid said. “They are getting better and we just have to see how it goes.”

So there remains a chance that both players could return this season, but it doesn’t sound like Reid is expecting an immediate return after the bye week either. I’d imagine that they’re hoping to get both players back sometime before the playoffs, but as Reid suggests, they still have to monitor their progress moving forward.

Niang, who would be a welcomed reinforcement on the offensive line, suffered a torn patellar tendon back in Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season. He’s been recovering and rehabbing the injury ever since. Bell, who could also help offset some of the blocking issues the team currently faces, suffered a hip flexor injury in the preseason that ultimately required surgery.

Once either player is designated to return, they’ll have a 21-day practice window opened up. At that point, the team will have those 21 days to decide whether to activate the players to the 53-man roster or keep them on season-ending injured reserve.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbwa53mtds520q2 player_id=none image=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=138805]

Chiefs to place TE Blake Bell on injured reserve

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed that TE Blake Bell is heading to injured reserve, but they don’t yet know who will be added to the roster in his place.

The Kansas City Chiefs will make one of their expected moves following 53-man roster cuts.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed on Monday that TE Blake Bell will be placed on injured reserve this week. The 31-year-old has been a key depth piece for Kansas City at the position during the team’s Super Bowl LIV run and last season (he spent 2020 with the Cowboys). Bell suffered a hip flexor injury in preseason Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. He eventually had surgery to repair that injury and Andy Reid suggested his timeline for return wasn’t going to be anytime soon.

“Blake Bell will go to (injured reserve),” Reid said. “He’ll go down. We haven’t made any decisions on how we’ll replace that going forward. But we’ll have that all taken care of this week. At least by the end of it.”

So why did Kansas City keep Bell on the initial 53-man roster before choosing to place him on injured reserve? In order for players to be designated to return from injured reserve during the 2022 NFL season, they need to be on the initial 53-man roster before being placed on injured reserve. That gives Chiefs fans an idea that Bell could be back later this season. He’ll miss a minimum of four games due to his placement on injured reserve, but I’d expect him to miss more time than that.

Bell appeared in all 16 regular season games last season, catching nine passes for 87 yards. He also had four carries for 10 yards and four first downs on the season. The team will miss his blocking presence, but they have two players they believe are capable of filling in.

“Both of those two are capable of it,” Reid said of Noah Gray and Jody Fortson. “Noah probably did more of it than what Jody did in that particular spot. But they’re all going to play. Those are good players. There are some things we can do with them to mix personnel.”

[listicle id=135753]

Chiefs could sign this recently released tight end to help offset Blake Bell’s injury

One tight end who was released in the recent wave of roster cuts could help the #Chiefs offset Blake Bell’s injury.

Update: Another team took advantage of Hudson’s status as a vested player, with the New York Giants making a move to sign Hudson on Thursday.

The Kansas City Chiefs could look for outside help at the tight end position after it was revealed that veteran tight end Blake Bell had surgery to repair his hip flexor injury.

The Chiefs already attempted to claim one tight end on waivers following the injury. They could potentially be in the market for a vested veteran who was recently released by the San Francisco 49ers in the most recent round of cuts. That player is TE Tanner Hudson.

An undrafted free agent out of Southern Arkansas who signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2018, Hudson is entering his fifth NFL season in 2022. He’s been mostly known as a reservist and pass-catching tight end during his career, but this preseason it appears he’s taken a step up as a blocker. That’s significant because that’s Bell’s biggest area of value for Kansas City.

According to Pro Football Focus, in 24 run-blocking snaps this preseason, Hudson recorded an 87.1 run-blocking grade. That’s the second-highest run-blocking grade among tight ends this preseason with a minimum of 20 snaps. It also ranks in PFF’s “high-quality” range for grading. During the NFL’s regular season, it has actually been Hudson’s pass-blocking grades that have been best with above-average grades on the few snaps he’s played in pass protection since 2019.

Hudson spent the 2021 NFL season on the practice squad with the 49ers. It’s possible that Kansas City could add Hudson in a similar capacity for the 2022 NFL season.

[listicle id=134923]

Chiefs TE Blake Bell underwent surgery on hip flexor injury

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid ruled several players unlikely to play in preseason Week 3, including TE Blake Bell who had surgery to repair his hip injury.

The Kansas City Chiefs are dealing with some injuries as they approach their third and final preseason game of the season.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chiefs HC Andy Reid effectively ruled out six players against the Green Bay Packers.

“As far injuries go, most likely these guys won’t play,” Reid said. “Blake Bell had surgery on that hip flexor. He won’t play. Carlos Dunlap has some inflammation in his Achilles. He won’t play. It is getting better, however. (Rashad) Fenton, with the groin strain. He won’t play. Derrick Gore fractured his thumb. He won’t play. Lucas (Niang) you know about the knee. JuJu (Smith-Schuster) is making progress.”

Speaking specifically on Bell’s surgery, Reid could not offer a specific timetable for his return.

“No, I don’t think it’s going to be real quick though,” Reid said.

He added that injured reserve is a possibility for Bell.

“We’ll see on (injured reserve),” Reid said. “We’re kind of throwing some things around right now.

As for JuJu Smith-Schuster, Reid says that his knee soreness popped up on the Monday following the first preseason game. He’s optimistic that he’ll be back ahead of Week 1.

“He’ll be fine,” Reid said. “He’s right there right now. He’s turned the corner in the last couple of days. He’s running on it.”

[listicle id=134923]

Chiefs TE Blake Bell suffers hip injury, questionable to return vs. Bears

#Chiefs TE Blake Bell suffered a hip injury on the first play of the second offensive series against the #Bears. He’s questionable to return.

Kansas City Chiefs TE Blake Bell got the scoring started for the team on Saturday, but it appears that his day is over due to injury.

On the first play of the second offensive series, a four-yard run by rookie RB Isiah Pacheco, Bell suffered an apparent lower-body injury. The training staff had to help him off of the field and tend to him on the sidelines. According to Kansas City Star reporter Herbie Teope, Bell was carted to the locker room in the back of the cart, which is never a good sign.

The team quickly ruled Bell’s return to the game as questionable with a hip injury.

Bell, 31, enters his third season in Kansas City. He was with the team during the Super Bowl run in 2019 and spent the 2021 season with the team. He’s a big part of the versatile offensive attack in Kansas City, whether it’s blocking in the run and passing game or catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”5Qv6xCbR1o-2173509-7498″]

[listicle id=133835]

WATCH: Blake Bell scores Chiefs’ first TD of preseason

The belldozer gets the #Chiefs on the board first in preseason Week 1.

The Kansas City Chiefs got the party started in preseason Week 1 with an 11-play scoring drive against the Chicago Bears.

The entire time the Chiefs marched down the field in 21 personnel with multiple tight ends on the field and a fullback. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid got Mike Burton, Travis Kelce, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Isiah Pacheco involved early on in the drive.

They relied on a veteran offensive playmaker to punch it in for a touchdown at the end of the drive. With just five yards to gain until paydirt, Mahomes faked the handoff and found Blake Bell on a little tight end screen to the right side of the field. Bell followed a block from starting center Creed Humphrey and walked in for what was a very easy score.

If the starting offense makes things look that easy during the regular season, there won’t be much in the way of concerns about their performance.

[listicle id=133835]

How each Oklahoma Sooners quarterback fared in the season opener since 2000

With a new starting quarterback at the helm for the Oklahoma Sooners, let’s look back at how each starting signal-caller has fared in the season opener since 2000.

When Dillon Gabriel takes his first snap under center for the Oklahoma Sooners on Sept. 3, he’ll be the fifth season-opening starting quarterback for the Sooners in six seasons.

Spencer Rattler opened the season as the starter each of the last two years. Before that the Sooners had a single season out of Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray after Baker Mayfield’s three-year run of dominance.

This year, it’s Dillon Gabriel’s turn to lead the Oklahoma Sooners. By all accounts his debut for the Sooners in September will go swimmingly, but not all season openers have been hot starts.

Let’s take a look at how each starting quarterback fared in their season opener since the year 2000.

Chiefs to re-sign TE Blake Bell

The #Chiefs made some re-signings official, including the Belldozer, who returns on a one-year deal.

The Kansas City Chiefs have officially announced some re-signings on Thursday, including one that hadn’t yet been reported.

In addition to the re-signing backup QB Chad Henne, DT Derrick Nnadi and former starting center Austin Reiter, the Chiefs also brought back TE Blake Bell. A former fourth-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, the Witchita, Kansas native returns for his third season in Kansas City.

He’s appeared in 31 games for the Chiefs with 12 starts in 2019 and 2021. He spent the 2020 NFL season in Dallas with the Cowboys, but he returned to Kansas City after a year away. He’ll still need a few more seasons before he can rival his uncle, Mike Bell, who played 13 seasons and started 100 games for the Chiefs franchise.

While Bell didn’t contribute much in the passing game in 2021 (9 catches for 87 yards), he did become the Chiefs’ QB sneak guru. A former wildcat QB with the Oklahoma Sooners, Bell gives the Chiefs a weapon under center that takes Patrick Mahomes out of the crosshairs after his freak kneecap injury on a QB sneak in 2019.

The Chiefs already had a whopping eight tight ends on the 90-man roster before re-signing Bell. Bringing him back was increasingly important following the departure of Tyreek Hill, with the team potentially looking to run more 12 and 13 personnel looks.

[listicle id=126026]

League-high 9 Sooners in action on NFL’s conference championship weekend

Oklahoma has a league-high nine former Sooners playing in the NFL’s conference championship weekend. Here’s a look at the nine in action.

There will be plenty of Oklahoma representation during the NFL’s conference championship weekend. Nine former Sooners are on active rosters and will be in action on Sunday looking to advance to Super Bowl LVI.

It’s worth noting that former Sooner Jordan Evans is also a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, but Evans suffered a torn ACL in week five against the Green Bay Packers.

Here’s a look at the nine Sooners in action this weekend.