Oklahoma leads SEC in players out, doubtful or questionable on injury report

1 week ago 10

Oklahoma's Southeastern Conference injury report looks like a mini roster.

As of Wednesday's initial report, the Sooners had more players out, doubtful and questionable -- 13 -- than any other SEC team. Vanderbilt had 11 and Ole Miss and Alabama had 10 on those lists. The injury barrage is a key reason the Sooners are just 3-3 heading into Saturday's game at Mississippi State.

The issue is particularly alarming on the Sooners' offensive line. As of Wednesday, Eddy Pierre-Louis and Ryan Fodje were listed as out and Michael Fasusi and Heath Ozaeta were listed as questionable. That report did not include Sean Hutton, who reportedly was transported to a local hospital Wednesday after suffering a non-contact injury.

Former walk-on and recent scholarship recipient Sean Hutton was transported to a hospital after a non-contact injury at practice Wednesday. Visit our website for more details. https://t.co/8BCOitLheU

— OU Daily (@OUDaily) October 22, 2026

The receiver position has been hit hard, too. Trell Harris is out, and Parker Livingstone and Elijah Thomas are questionable.

Even coach Brent Venables has been out of action. He was ill and missed this week's media session.

Venables has been asked about the injuries several times this season.

"I don't track what we what we do compared to other people," he said during the week before last Saturday's loss to Kentucky. "Certainly, you're always aware that injuries are part of game, and it's a physical, violent game."

Venables said the team has to practice hard to be successful.

"If you’re casual at practice, you don’t strain to finish at practice, all of those habits, good or bad, are going to show up," he said. "There’s always a fine line. We've got to keep a healthy team, but we’re very mindful of the time we put on the field, wear our GPS stuff, we look at all those types of things as well."

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Venables said much of the issue is coincidental, and he doesn't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with the way the team prepares.

"We’re not doing things different from how I’ve done it for a long time, whether I was an assistant or not," he said. "We have to practice the right way, though."