Brent Venables gives injury updates on 2 key defensive players ahead of Alabama game
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With the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket having been revealed on Sunday, No. 8 Oklahoma learned that it would be hosting No. 9 Alabama for a rematch in the opening round.
The Sooners are set to welcome the Crimson Tide for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Friday, Dec. 19, with that being the first game of the CFP overall.
While pleased with being included in the field, head coach Brent Venables likely wishes his program had more time to rest and prepare, because it is dealing with some injuries at key spots.
In talking to the media Sunday, Venables revealed that star cornerback Gentry Williams recently underwent shoulder surgery and will not be available for the game. Meanwhile, likely all-league defensive lineman R Mason Thomas’ status is uncertain at the moment.
Thomas has not seen the field since he suffered an injury during a scoop-and-score touchdown against Tennessee on Nov. 1. The dynamic pass rusher has recorded 23 total tackles this season and paces the Sooner defense with 6.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Meanwhile, Williams has not played since OU’s win over South Carolina in mid October. The junior had tallied 10 total tackles and a pair of pass breakups up to that point.
Parker is currently the sports editor for the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.
