USA Today Sports

Steve Sarkisian Provides Injury Update on CJ Baxter, Ryan Watts

Originally posted on FanNation Longhorns Country
By Matt Galatzan | Last updated 11/25/23

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns blew out the Texas Tech Red Raiders 57-7 on Friday night, cementing their spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.

However, that win did not come without cost, with multiple Horns being injured throughout the night.

The first Longhorn to go down was cornerback Ryan Watts, who was injured on the first play of the game when attempting to make a tackle on Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks. Watts did not return to the game.

Sarkisian described Watts' injury as a back issue but did not provide a further update.

"We'll know more moving forward," Sarkisian said. "I just saw him in the locker room. He's in good spirits, so that's a positive."

Freshman Malik Muhammad replaced Watts, coming away with an interception.

The second notable injury came to starting running back CJ Baxter, who was already filling in for starter Jonathon Brooks and left early in the third quarter with an upper-body injury.

Baxter's injury was described by Sarkisian as a 'hip pointer', and noted that the team decided to hold out the freshman from the rest of the game as a precaution.

"I looked at the scoreboard and he could've gone back in," Sarkisian said. "(It was) more of a coach's decision."

The injury for Baxter gave way to Jaydon Blue to receive most of the carries, who had a 69-yard touchdown in the first half to help provide some early separation. Blue finished with 121 yards for the game, while the team as a whole ended with over 300 yards on the ground.

This article first appeared on FanNation Longhorns Country and was syndicated with permission.

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