Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman expected to play vs. West Virginia

Oklahoma is expected to get linebacker Danny Stutsman back for Saturday’s game against West Virginia, a source told On3’s Matt Zenitz. Stutsman has been dealing with an ankle injury and missed last week’s game against Oklahoma State.

Stutsman has been a stalwart for the Oklahoma defense this year, leading the Sooners with 73 tackles to go with two sacks and an interception. He suffered the injury during the second half of Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas in Week 9 and had to miss last week’s installment of Bedlam, as well.

Brent Venables previously said Stutsman was still day-to-day as he worked his way back from the injury, but noted he practiced during the week.

“Danny practiced yesterday,” Venables said of Stutsman during his Tuesday press conference. “Tawee (Walker) practiced yesterday. Gentry (Williams) is going to practice today. We had several guys with knicks and bumps and bruises at this time of the year. That’s pretty much the norm. So, we’ll see. I don’t have any idea about gameday yet. I can’t say definitively anybody is going to miss that we weren’t already aware of.”

Oklahoma is coming off back-to-back losses as it continues its quest for a Big 12 title in its final year before leaving for the SEC. The Sooners enter Week 11 in a five-way tie for third place behind Texas and Oklahoma State, which are tied for first.

Kickoff between Oklahoma and West Virginia is set for 7 p.m. ET on FOX.

Brent Venables on Oklahoma’s small margins: ‘Don’t do the things that will absolutely punish you’

Oklahoma hasn’t had an easy road to a 7-2 record this year. The Sooners’ last four games were all decided by one score. They beat Texas by four points and UCF by two before losing to Kansas by five and Oklahoma State by three points.

Venables knows his team doesn’t have much room to make mistakes, which is why OU has to avoid self-inflicted wounds if it wants to keep pace in the Big 12.

“Don’t do the things that will absolutely punish you,” Venables said. “Through seven games, we didn’t turn the ball over and the game will honor you for that. On the flip side, I make it that simple. Because, again, when you turn the ball over, everything else just gets highlighted. All the other mistakes that are there.”

OU will have another opportunity to right the ship Saturday night against West Virginia.