Oklahoma Football Faces Injury Woes as Spring Practices Kick Off

NORMAN, Okla. — The Oklahoma Sooners kicked off spring practices on Thursday, March 07, 2025, but an extensive injury list is already casting a shadow over the team’s preparations. Head coach Brent Venables confirmed that nine players are expected to miss much or all of the spring session, with wide receiver Jayden Gibson at the top of the concern list.

Gibson, a redshirt junior poised to be a key piece of OU’s receiving corps, suffered a season-ending knee injury last August. After months of rehab, he was slated to return as a limited participant this spring with eyes on a full recovery by fall. However, those plans hit a snag when Gibson suffered a setback during a workout on Tuesday, March 04. “Jayden was working some routes on air and might’ve had a small setback,” Venables said, withholding further details pending medical evaluation. The uncertainty around Gibson’s status is a gut punch for a team that’s already lost receivers Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony, Brenen Thompson, and Nic Anderson to departures this offseason. With four new wideouts added via the transfer portal, Gibson’s experience and athleticism remain critical.

The injury bug isn’t limited to Gibson. Linebacker Kendel Dolby, who sat out nine games last season with a foot injury, is also limited this spring, continuing rehab without participating in mat drills. “Kendel has looked good in a limited capacity,” Venables noted, offering a cautiously optimistic update.

Elsewhere, the Sooners are bracing for a slew of absences. Offensive linemen Heath Ozaeta and Logan Howland, defensive tackle Jayden Jackson, and tight end Kade McIntyre are all sidelined with labrum injuries. Wide receivers KJ Daniels (hamstring) and Andy Bass (ACL), running back Jovantae Barnes (foot), and linemen Seth Freeman and Darius Afalava (both knee) round out the list of players missing spring entirely. Safety Peyton Bowen (turf toe) will be limited, while cornerback Gentry Williams, recovering from a shoulder injury that cost him most of last season, is restricted to non-contact work.

Last year’s injury woes saw five top receivers miss significant time, and with three now gone, the depth chart is under pressure. Venables remains measured, focusing on rehab and evaluation as the team navigates this latest challenge. For a program looking to rebuild momentum, the road through spring just got a lot bumpier.

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