Sooners head coach Brent Venables gives a minor injury update on two valuable players before the biggest game of their careers
Brent Venables and the Sooners may end up getting R Mason Thomas and Jake Maikkula back against Alabama.
Just like every team that’s left standing this time of year, the Oklahoma Sooners are dealing with some crucial injuries. Then again, their Round 1 playoff opponent, the Alabama Crimson Tide, is also dealing with some pretty significant injuries. For Oklahoma, there’s a chance it could be getting some of these players back this week.
“I do,” head coach Brent Venables replied on Monday during a press conference when asked if he anticipated defensive end R Mason Thomas and center Jake Maikkula to get some practice in this week. “It will be on the practice report.”
How much they practice, whether they are limited or full participants, is something we don’t know yet. However, the Sooners have been OK without those two, so it’s not a situation where they will hit the panic button if both can’t go.
In fact, against Alabama the first time around, they won on the road with Thomas out. They have won other games this season, like against the LSU Tigers, with Maikkula out.
Oklahoma getting Thomas and Maikkula back would be huge
So far, the Sooners are expected to be at one of their healthiest points of the year. Getting Thomas back, one of the best edge rushers in the country, is huge for their defense.
Thomas was so good this year that he made an All-SEC team after only playing nine total games this season. That allows the defensive line to stay fresh, so guys like Taylor Wein, PJ Adebawore, Marvin Jones Jr., and others can rotate in and out, keeping the defense from gassing.
In terms of Maikkula, the Sooners need him more than they need Thomas. They don’t have a center to back up Maikkula. They have other guys who can slide over and play it even though that’s not their natural position, but they don’t have anyone who can actually play it for a full season.
Right now, Fibechi Nwaiwu and freshman Ryan Fodje are getting reps there. They are both guards and tackles, so getting Maikkula back will be key.
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