up to 7 defensive contributors for Texas football could be out vs. Arkansas due to injuries in Week 12

The SEC-required injury report for the Texas-Arkansas game on Nov. 16 was released on Wednesday and Thursday. Both teams have notable players listed on the report, including several key skill-position starters for the Razorbacks.

Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian have only three games remaining this regular season, against Arkansas this weekend and then at home against the Kentucky Wildcats on Nov. 23 and on the road against the rival Texas A&M Aggies on Nov. 30.

Texas has primarily dealt with injuries affecting its defense in recent weeks. However, the Longhorns saw the return of senior safety Andrew Mukuba and junior wide receiver Isaiah Bond from injury during last weekend’s dominant 49-17 victory over Florida.

Here are three important injury updates for the Longhorns as they prepare for their Week 12 road game against Arkansas.

Derek Williams Jr., S

The safety position has been hit hard for the Longhorns this fall. Texas not only had Mukuba sidelined for a game and a half due to a lower-body injury during SEC play last month, but now they are also without sophomore safety Derek Williams Jr. for the remainder of the season.

Williams sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma in Week 7. Over the four games he played this season, he recorded 11 total tackles, one defensive stop, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Sophomore edge rusher Colton Vasek, who missed the Florida game last weekend due to injury, will be sidelined for a second consecutive week for the Longhorns’ defensive front. Vasek has appeared in eight games this season, recording six total tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, five quarterback pressures, and four stops.

Vasek was initially listed as “doubtful” on the first SEC injury report Wednesday, but by Thursday, he was downgraded to “out” for the upcoming Arkansas game.

In Vasek’s absence over the past two games, junior edge rusher Justice Finkley has stepped up, seeing increased snaps at the EDGE position. Finkley recorded one tackle and a quarterback pressure during Texas’s 32-point win over Florida last weekend, playing nine defensive snaps.

Despite Vasek’s injury, Texas has continued to get strong production from its EDGE group this fall. Redshirt junior Trey Moore, true freshman Colin Simmons, junior Ethan Burke, and senior Barryn Sorrell have formed a formidable and deep EDGE rotation under defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, helping solidify the Longhorns’ pass rush this season.

Morice Blackwell Jr., LB

There has been no change to the “doubtful” status of senior linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. for the Arkansas game, according to Thursday’s injury report. Blackwell played 21 defensive snaps in the Longhorns’ victory over Florida last weekend.

This season, Blackwell has totaled 21 combined tackles and five defensive stops over nine games. He has also been a consistent contributor to Texas’s special teams, playing key roles in field goal, kickoff, and punt coverage and returns.

Blackwell has played double-digit defensive snaps in seven games for the Longhorns this fall. On special teams, he has registered three combined tackles, which ranks tied for second-most on the team in that category.