Saturday in Boulder, Colorado, the Texas Tech football team resumes Big 12 play against the Colorado Buffaloes. Fortunately for head coach Joey McGuire, one of the team's best playmakers, tight end Terrance Carter Jr., is expected to be back on the field after a one-game absence.
"It's going to be great to get Terrance Carter Jr. back this week," McGuire said Thursday night on his weekly radio show.
This is great news for a Texas Tech offense that has yet to completely find its stride in 2026. Having another option in the passing game to complement wide receivers Kenny Johnson and Coy Eakin should be beneficial for quarterback Will Hammond.
However, Carter is yet to make an impact this season. Though he came into 2026 with massive expectations following a 55-catch, 624-yard, and five-touchdown season in his first campaign as a Red Raider, he's snagged just five passes for 62 yards this fall.
That dip in productivity has been due in large part to assorted injuries. Carter missed the Oregon State game in week two of the season with a foot injury and last week's Sam Houston game in Lubbock with a shoulder problem.
Without Carter, transfer TE Jett Carpenter and true freshman TE Matt "Moose" Ludwig have filled in well enough to get the Red Raiders to 4-0 on the season. However, neither of those players is as dynamic as Carter, meaning Tech's offense has been lacking some serious firepower for half of this season's games.
"Whenever he gets the ball in his hands," McGuire said Thursday, "you have yards after the catch. And so, some of that we've missed."
Texas Tech needs another weapon to emerge in the passing game
With Carter off to a slow start, the offense has been overly reliant on just two receivers, Johnson and Eakin. That duo has caught 31 passes for 472 yards and three touchdowns this season.
The rest of Tech's wide receivers and tight ends have combined for just 30 catches for 375 yards and two TDs. That lack of balance across the offense is less than ideal.
What's more, Carter was expected to be a security blanket for Hammond this season, something the first-time starting QB could certainly benefit from.
"When you look at all quarterbacks," McGuire said, "when you look at the best in the world is Patrick Mahomes, and he's got Travis Kelce. I mean, there is a deal where, whether it's a running back or a tight end, there is a comfortability of being able to find that guy..."
For what it's worth, Carter is still listed as "Questionable" for this week according to Thursday's updated Big 12 injury report. However, during McGuire's tenure, most of the players in the "Questionable" category have suited up each week.
It sounds as if Carter is going to be able to give it a go on Saturday as well. That should be great news for a Red Raider offense that can use all the playmakers it has at its disposal now that the meat of the Big 12 schedule is about to arrive.
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