Unfortunately, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are going to have to make some adjustments on offense heading into the season. That’s because Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders will need to pivot a bit following the injury to TTU running back Quinten Joyner.
According to reports, Joyner suffered a devastating knee injury and it currently looks like there’s a rather significant chance that he’s going to be out for much (and potentially all) of this season.
That’s not good. Not good at all.
SOURCES: Texas Tech RB Quentin Joyner, a transfer from USC, suffered a knee injury at Saturday's scrimmage that is feared to be season-ending. The 5-11, 215-pound sophomore rushed for 478 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per carry in 2024. CBS Sports first reported the injury.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) August 18, 2025
Joyner, a talented transfer portal recruit who left the USC Trojans and picked the Red Raiders over a number of different programs, was likely to be the starting running back for Texas Tech this season and he had the potential to really have a significant impact on this offense with the way offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich orchestrates things.
But it sounds like we won’t get to witness that this year. And here’s how Texas Tech fans are handling that sort of news.
Texas Tech football fans react as Red Raiders’ star running back Quinten Joyner was injured during fall camp
This is how Texas Tech fans are reacting to the news about Joyner’s injury:
https://t.co/UBXW0EBSrQ pic.twitter.com/uA7jlWMDzW
— Cornelious H. Jenkins (@SirJenkins_) August 19, 2025
I just released my playoff graphic to our substack this morning… https://t.co/x1ZRC3w8li pic.twitter.com/gk3uJ4b5Kj
— ThreeTechPod 🎙 (@ThreeTechPod) August 18, 2025
https://t.co/NZ7p3b58eG pic.twitter.com/lLAlxpdZeD
— Cager (@cagerosborne6) August 19, 2025
well it was fun while it lasted pic.twitter.com/rWrzu0EzE3
— nathan rodriguez (@nathanjrodrguez) August 18, 2025
Folks are sad. Understandably so.
Why can’t I have nice things https://t.co/UCqAlrtGdr pic.twitter.com/Wj4cqXV0UI
— Tech N Tortillas 🦅🦅🌵 (@techntortillas) August 18, 2025
I have no words💔 https://t.co/rHhi6Cy7RB pic.twitter.com/2K0t2zwATY
— Vader Red (@Vader_Red_) August 18, 2025
https://t.co/2QTAfpHpPS pic.twitter.com/WHFJEfXUbE
— Stephen Smith (@Stephen_Smith14) August 18, 2025
I mean, I can’t blame anyone for being upset about this news. It stinks! The whole deal just stinks. There’s not too much to add to that. Joyner now has to deal with all of the pain and frustration that comes with this sort of injury. It looks like he might not play this season despite all of the work and effort that he put in towards being able to play this year.
The whole deal is awful.
Sucks for Joyner but the country about to learn J’Koby Williams real quick https://t.co/feJL6iSuSK pic.twitter.com/LPEbHAsBDl
— Tamper Tech U 🌵🏴☠️ (@afcredraider) August 18, 2025
Was set to be the starter for an offense that could be dynamic. Likely to be more of a committee of young guys now. https://t.co/n3JFCUYmgq
— CFB Focus 🏈 (@cffmwachsman) August 19, 2025
These are a couple of good points. It’ll be interesting to see how Texas Tech’s offense looks without Joyner as the starter and with the Red Raiders working to find an adequate (and productive) replacement for Tahj Brooks.
Regardless of who ends up playing running back now that it looks like Joyner might be missing some rather significant playing time, the Red Raiders will need to move forward if they’re going to make this season something special. It’s just such a bummer that we won’t get to see Joyner playing a role on the field during this season.