Lincoln Riley updates wide receiver injuries ahead of Week 9

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley is confident in the depth of his receiver corps as the Sooners battle injuries. OU is set to face Texas Tech at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Norman, but could be without a couple of its most integral players.

Mario Williams and Mike Woods both sat out this past week against Kansas. In his Tuesday press conference, Riley said their status against the Red Raiders is still up in the air.

“Receiver-wise we’ll have to see,” the coach said. “I think Mario and Mike still have a chance, but neither one of them were close to being able to play the other day. We hope to have them available this week, but if not I think we have a chance to get them back after that.”

The passing game struggled without Williams and Woods this past week, as running back Eric Gray finished as the leading receiver with just 42 yards. Oklahoma got off to a slow start in the first half as true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams went just 6-of-9 for 71 yards and an interception.

Tight end Austin Stogner is coming off of a leg injury last year and has made a limited impact through the first half of the season. But Riley hinted that the 6-foot-6, 251-pound weapon could be more involved Saturday.

“Stog has done a good job,” Riley said. “We’ve got into so many of these games where it’s been so low possessions that it’s affected the opportunities for everybody. He’s in a very competitive room. That’s three guys who have been very good players for us. Three guys who have established themselves as trustworthy. We can go to them and they’ll make the play.

“The last few weeks the ball has found those other guys a little bit more, but Stog is a really big weapon. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he really breaks out here. I think he’s getting better. Those things go in ebbs and flows. But we certainly want to continue to recognize the weapon he is and get all those guys involved.”

One of the big reasons Stogner has found a hard time getting going is fellow tight end Jeremiah Hall. The latter has a touchdown catch in three of the past four games and is emerging as a leader on the Sooners roster.

“He’s been great for us,” Riley said. “He’s been one of our captains. One of our leaders. He’s very steady as a player. He’s really improved as a receiver. He’s made himself a more versatile player than he was when he walked in the door. There’s just a lot of trust with the guy. You know what you’re gonna get at practice. You know what you’re gonna get every single game. He rarely makes mental mistakes. He’s always into it.

“No matter if the job’s catching the ball and scoring a touchdown or making a tough gritty block. He’s going to get his job done and come to compete every day. He’s definitely one of our bell cows. One of our big leaders. He’s always been a big presence in this program, but his leadership is at a high level right now.”

Despite the injuries at receiver, Lincoln Riley should feel confident heading into this game against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are trending downward fast after firing coach Matt Wells this week. If OU can get through this game, it will be 9-0 heading into a bye week.