Branson Hickman injury update: Brent Venables provides latest on return

Injuries are piling up for Oklahoma on the offensive line, with Branson Hickman arguably being the biggest. The SMU transfer started the season opener against Temple but suffered a sprained ankle has did not play against Houston. Center depth has deteriorated even further since, making Hickman’s eventual return all the more important.

Brent Venables is “hopeful” Hickman is close to getting back on the field but as of Tuesday, there is not information. It’s not coach speak from the Oklahoma headman either, being honest about what he knows about his starting center. How bad the offensive line has been is no secret in Norman and getting Hickman back would be a huge boost.

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“He was a little better yesterday than he was last weekend,” Venables said. “So, we’ll see. I’m literally not be evasive, I don’t know. We’re hopeful and we really are. We could use a guy that’s started 35 games in his career. But he’s closer.”

Venables understands not being able to provide a full update is not going to be popular. People inside the program are growing frustrated with the long list of injuries too. Oklahoma is not too far from beginning SEC play, facing Tennessee and Auburn before a bye week on Oct. 5.

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But for now, there is nothing the coaching staff can do. Players like Hickman are injured and can do nothing but stay on their recovery timelines.

“It’s not a popular answer,” Venables said. “It’s certainly not popular in our office, I can promise you. Try to be the trainer in there, he’s Dr. Death giving us the report everyday. He gets challenged pretty good. ‘What does that mean? Is he going today? Is he going to be available this weekend?’

“A lot of it, they don’t know… If anybody is frustrated with who’s going to be available this week, you got to get in line.”

Oklahoma will host Tulane at Gaylord-Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Injuries will be a storyline all the way throughout kickoff as Venables will be juggling to see who he can run out onto the field.