Texas Tech football: Injuries a concern as Houston game nears

The Texas Tech football team prepares for a critical showdown against Houston this week with as many as five starters questionable due to injuries.

As the Texas Tech football team heads into a key non-conference game against in-state foe Houston, a handful of key starters are dealing with injury concerns that put their availability for this week in question.

Against Lamar, Texas Tech had five players who were listed as starters on the preseason depth chart sidelined by injuries. Fortunately, the game against Lama last week worked as pseudo bye week giving the injured starters an extra week to heal.

The one starter who seems most likely to return this week is sophomore running back Da’Leon Ward. Kingsbury has indicated that Ward could have played against Lamar but he was held out to protect a tweaked groin.

As for fellow running back Tre King, a knee injury forced him to sit out the home opener. Kingsbury said that King would not have been able to play under any circumstances on Saturday but that he is expected to be back soon.

It was a disappointing turn for Ward who was excellent in his return to the team week on after redshirting in 2017. Ward led the Red Raiders with 90 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries against Ole Miss.

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With both Ward and King out, Texas Tech went to a senior and a pair of true freshmen to fill the void at running back. Senior Demarcus Felton carried the ball 17 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, true freshman Ta’Zhawn Henry ran for 55 yards on 11 carries and caught three passes for 20 yards. Henry had his first two rushing touchdowns of his career as he flashed the speed that made him an intriguing prospect out of Houston.

Sa’Rodorcik Thompson, a true freshman from Irving, Texas also found the end zone for the first time in his career against Lamar. On six carries, Thompson amassed 39 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Red Raider offensive line was also short-handed against Lamar with starting left tackle Travis Bruffy sidelined by a leg injury. In his place, redshirt freshman Dawson Deaton made his first career start. Kingsbury has indicated that Bruffy should be back “sooner than later” which is not reassuring as far as this week is concerned.

In two games this year, the Houston defense has racked up 4 sacks including three in the opener against Rice. The Cougars’ defensive line is an aggressive and dangerous group that will be a handful for the Red Raiders’ offensive line regardless of whether or not Bruffy is able to play.

Of course, these injuries are in addition to two high-profile injuries from week one. All-Big 12 safety Jah’Shawn Johnson has not played this year while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and facing a revamped Houston offense that has put up 45 points in each of its first two games, his presence would be huge this weekend.

Meanwhile, week one starting quarterback McLane Carter is still dealing with a high ankle sprain suffered in the first quarter of the Ole Miss game. True freshman Alan Bowman has played well in Carter’s place making it seem unlikely that Carter would start against Houston even if healthy.

Next. The good, the bad and the ugly from win over Lamar. dark

Keep an eye on these injuries as the week progresses. Facing a key non-conference game against Houston in just five days, Texas tech looks like it could remain short-handed at key positions.

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