The Hits Just Keep Coming as Oklahoma State Deals with More Injuries Before TCU
STILLWATER – When it rains, sometimes it pours. It poured some this week, which with rain was a good thing, but the injury bug continued to strike the Cowboys. It hit two of the younger emerging players on offense as offensive guard Austin Kawecki, who has been playing quite a bit spelling right guard Preston Wilson and left guard Cole Birmingham throughout the games. He was on the field last week against Arizona State in both first half scoring drives. Kawecki is out now with a bicep injury. Wide receiver Talyn Shettron was working on special teams this week and suffered a broken hand. Kawecki and Shettron are out indefinitely.
On offense the injuries have already whittled down the quarterback depth as Garret Rangel started the 38-35 loss at BYU and was playing well when he was tackled from behind and suffered a broken collarbone. Zane Flores, the talented red-shirt freshman, had surgery on a foot injury that was genetic and developed into a stress fracture. He will be back for offseason and spring football next year.
Offensive tackle Dalton Cooper should return soon, maybe after the bye week, Cooper is healing from a ruptured plantar.
On defense Trey Rucker is back and getting better each week from a hamstring injury. Defensive players that are out for the Cowboys include safety Cam Epps with an ACL injury and bandit safety Ty Williams with a knee injury. Possibly back soon but nnot against TCU are edge rusher/linebacker Collin Oliver with a foot injury and linebacker Nick Martin with an MCL knee sprain.
The Horned Frogs have some injuries and that list may have grown. TCU is missing tight end Chase Curtis and linebacker Cooper McDonald. Two wide receivers are questionable in Alabama transfer JoJo Earle and Major Everhart.