Texas Longhorns tight end Jordan Washington suffered a shoulder injury during Wednesday’s spring training, putting a temporary halt to his offseason progress. Fortunately for Longhorns fans, the MRI results brought some relief, confirming that while Washington will miss the rest of spring practice, his season remains intact.
Adding to the injury concerns, standout wide receiver Ryan Wingo is also sidelined, as he nurses a hamstring issue that will keep him out for the remainder of spring training.
Jordan Washington Would Be a Crucial Absentee for Texas
Heading into his second year, Washington is set to take on a crucial role in the Longhorns’ offense for the 2025 season. With Gunnar Helm and Juan Davis moving on and Amari Niblack committing to archrival Texas A&M, Washington is poised to step up as a key playmaker. Ironically, the talented tight end originally chose Texas over the Aggies in the 2023 recruiting cycle.
CFB analyst Bobby Burton expressed his views on Washington’s injury, and how it’s different from Wingo’s case.
“We mentioned last week, or excuse me, earlier this week, that Ryan Wingo was out with a hamstring, probably out for the remainder of spring. They’re going to be very careful with him. Now we’re hearing Jordan Washington, the redshirt freshman tied in out of the Cypress area down in Houston, will also likely be out to the end of spring with a shoulder issue,” Burton said.
“Longhorns getting a little dinged up, but these are not, how do I want to put it? These are not longstanding injuries, at least, that should linger into the fall camp. So from that perspective, it’s kind of good, but it will give some younger players a chance to make do here,” he added.
Burton sees Washington’s upcoming role as a crucial one in Texas’ offense for the 2025 season. With that in mind, his brief time on the sidelines during spring practice might actually work in his favor, allowing him to recover fully before making a major impact when the regular season kicks off.
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With Washington sidelined, the Longhorns will turn to rising talents like Spencer Shannon, along with freshmen Emari Winston and Nick Townsend, to step up during spring practice.
Texas will also be without four more key players. Head coach Steve Sarkisian revealed the full list of absentees, adding another layer of intrigue to the team’s spring preparations.
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“We’ll have I think it’s like four or five guys who won’t participate fully in spring,” Sarkisian said. “Derek Williams obviously won’t be able to participate fully in spring coming off the knee injury, CJ Baxter won’t be able to fully participate in spring, DeAndre Moore won’t be able to fully participate in spring. Colton Vasek … I think that’s it.”
The Longhorns are playing it smart, prioritizing the long game over short-term gains. With their sights set on a deep playoff run, they’re ensuring their key players get the rest and recovery they need before the 2025 season kicks off.
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