CJ Baxter injury update: Texas running back posts video of injury recovery
It was a big blow to Texas‘ offensive plans in 2024 when running back CJ Baxter went down with a season-ending knee injury in training camp. And while Baxter is still on the shelf until 2025, he seems to be making strong progress in his recovery.
Just 29 days after having a torn LCL and ACL in his right knee surgically repaired, Baxter posted a video of him gently riding and exercise bike. The short clip on his Instagram story depicted him slowly pushing the pedal around with his surgically-repaired leg.
It might not look like much, but it’s a positive development for Baxter as he progresses in his recovery.
Baxter underwent surgery on Aug. 23.
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Baxter was expected to feature as one of Texas’ lead backs in 2024, prior to his injury. In his absence, a trio of Longhorns have stepped up to shoulder most of the rushing burden, Jaydon Blue, Jerrick Gibson and Tre Wisner, though Blue missed the Longhorns’ Week 3 win.
Gibson leads the team in carries and yards, with 33 and 178, respectively. His two rushing touchdowns are tied for the team lead. Blue and Wisner have 20 and 19 carries, respectively, and Wisner has scored a touchdown.
Texas is managing a quarterback injury, big expectations
Steve Sarkisian hasn’t named a starting quarterback for No. 1 Texas’ game against Louisiana-Monroe this weekend. That said, with Quinn Ewers dealing with an oblique strain and currently listed as questionable, redshirt freshman Arch Manning could be in line for his first career start.
Manning is the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and the son of Cooper Manning. He was the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 class.
And he’s the most-discussed backup in college football.
Sarkisian was asked about that phenomenon, and about how he handles the hype his redshirt freshman signal caller receives.
“I don’t do anything,” the fourth-year Longhorns head coach said this week. “Arch is just another guy on our team. And the reason I’m able to do that is because that’s who Arch is every day. He’s a selfless teammate. He cares about the guys on the team. He cares about Quinn. They’ve got a great relationship. He works his tail off. He wants to play good football for them because he knows how hard everybody’s working.
“So I literally don’t address it with him. I don’t address it with the team. He’s just part of the team, you know. And I think that’s been the approach.”