Texas provides encouraging injury update ahead of top-10 showdown with Georgia
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Texas has already experienced plenty of marquee games this season, but Steve Sarkisian & Co. are gearing up for a matchup that could make-or-break their year this weekend.
The Longhorns visit Athens for a date with Georgia on Saturday night, and with two losses to their name, the visitors need to spring the upset in order to keep their College Football Playoff hopes treading above water.
And with the team coming off a bye week, Texas is well-rested and apparently healthier than it’s been all year for this primetime game.
Earlier Wednesday, On3 reported that defensive backs Michael Taaffe and Jelani McDonald were each practicing and appearing primed to suit up against the Bulldogs. Taaffe was donning a small cast over his thumb after missing two games following surgery, while McDonald exited the team’s Nov. 1 win over Vanderbilt with a concussion.
And when Texas’ injury report was revealed Wednesday night, the program accomplished a rare feat in the SEC by featuring no players on the list.
The return of McDonald and Taaffe to the secondary is key for the Longhorns in plenty of ways. The duo ranks second and third on the team in total tackles respectively while also having picked off three passes combined.
In addition, prior to Taaffe missing the Mississippi State game, Texas’ defense had not allowed an opponent to score more than 30 points. Both the Bulldogs and Vanderbilt have eclipsed that mark since.
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.
