One college football season ends, and another is about to begin—but Texas’s latest injury report has raised serious concerns for head coach Steve Sarkisian. Among the injured players, CJ Baxter’s status is the most concerning.
He is still waiting for medical clearance to play next season after missing the entire previous year. Key names like Jonah Williams and Michael Taaffe are also working through their recovery timelines. Here’s the update on their conditions.
Texas Longhorns’ Latest Injury Report
We can’t say the team is in serious danger from these injuries because the Longhorns are still in good health overall. Plus, with Arch Manning leading the charge this season, expectations are pretty high. However, some of the health concerns are quite frustrating, especially Baxter’s situation. The staff isn’t rushing him back onto the field, which makes his case even more uncertain.
The sophomore running back suffered a season-ending LCL and PCL tear during fall camp in 2024, which required surgery and a recovery period of six to nine months. Back in March, Head Coach Sarkisian emphasized a cautious approach, making it clear they want Baxter fully healed before returning.
“We’re not in a rush,” Sarkisian said. “I’m not trying to roll the ball out there and make him carry the ball in spring ball. … What I do know is he’s on a really good progression. He’s had no setbacks. He looks good. He’s in really good spirits.”
Now, let’s do the math. Baxter had successful surgery on August 23, 2024. Since it’s now June 2025, it’s been more than nine months since the operation. That means he should be in training camp. However, the medical team hasn’t cleared him yet. Still, the expectation is that he’ll be fully ready by August 2025.
🚨UPDATE:
Texas is healthy with the exception of CJ Baxter who is still not cleared👀
The expectation is that he will return in August🤘🏻
Per @EricNahlin pic.twitter.com/tUg0vjpu8s
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) June 5, 2025
Texas has a few more injury updates that fans should know about, as reported by On3. The updates include a mix of good news and ongoing recoveries.
- Starting with Derek Williams, he’s been cleared to join the team for June workouts. While that’s a great step forward, he’s still wearing a brace as he shakes off the rust from his injury.
- Meanwhile, Colton Vasek is back to full health. That’s a big boost for Longhorns’ defense, especially as they look to build depth heading into the season.
- Another positive update comes from Zina Umeozulu. After undergoing surgery for a spring injury, he’s reportedly doing well and back on track.
- Then there’s Williams. After finishing his first year playing baseball, he’s slowly been transitioned to football activities.
- Emmett Mosley and Jack Endries’ challenge isn’t physical—it’s mental. Both players are still learning the playbook, so their reps in 7-on-Endries have been limited.
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Baxter’s recovery remains the biggest question mark for Texas. Still, the team looks solid as they head into the summer. The Longhorns’ offense will get a major boost if Baxter returns at full strength. He’s expected to team up with Tre Wisner in the backfield, giving Texas a dangerous rushing attack.
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