Days after CJ Baxter injury, Texas loses another RB in practice

It isn't supposed to work this way.

Less than a week after expected starting running back CJ Baxter was lost for the season to a contact knee injury suffered in practice, the Longhorns hav elost another running back in similar circumstances. This time, it's freshman Christian Clark, was reportedly suffered a serious knee injury (though early updates from beat writers indicated the program does not expect it was an ACL tear) during Monday's training sessions.

Clark's injury further decimates an already depleted running back group for a Texas team that expected to have one of the nation's more explosive running attacks. Clark was expected to be one of the young talents to help fill in for Baxter's absence. Instead, the Longhorns are now looking for someone to potentially take Clark's practice and game reps, too.

The current Texas running back depth chart starts with junior Jaydon Blue and sophomore Tre Wisner, and true freshman Jerrick Gibson. The team is also currently trying Derion Gullette as a ball carrier , despite the fact that Gullette played 2023 as a linebacker and was not a running back in high school, either.

Other options in the offensive backfield include Texas baseball player Nik Sanders, who recently joined the football team but played as a running back in high school, and redshirt freshman wide receiver Ryan Niblett, whom the program is reportedly considering shifting from receiver to running back on an exploratory basis as well.

One doesn't have to go back far to recognize the importance of running back depth at Texas. It was just last season that the Longhorns lost future NFL Draft pick Jonathan Brooks to a knee injury midseason, forcing Baxter and Blue to emerge as a viable lead tandem. In that circumstance, the team's depth helped save the team's balanced attack, paving the way for a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Given the early rash of injuries, Texas fans must hope all their bad luck for the 2024 season is coming before the season truly gets underway.