RB Tre Wisner to Miss Game Against UTEP

 After starting running back Tre Winser rushed 16 times for 80 yards in the Longhorns’ season opener against Ohio State, the starting back picked up a minor leg injury, resulting in him missing the SJSU game, and now the UTEP game.

As the Longhorns were warming up for the matchup with San Jose State last week, everyone noticed that Wisner was in street clothes, leaving many wondering what had happened to him.

Before the game, there had been speculation that he might not be a go for the game, and sure enough, the speculation was right. After the game, head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke on what held Wisner out.

“He’s got a leg injury, we held him today. We just didn’t think it was the right thing to do to force the issue with him,” Sarkisian said. I wanted Christian [Clark] to play more. I wanted Jerrick [Gibson] to get opportunities. It worked out for us that way.”

It did work out. CJ Baxter was leading back on Saturday, getting the most carries, but Gibson and Clark also got a fair amount of the carries, recording 15 combined carries for 59 yards.

Although those three backs played well and had no issues in the Longhorns’ 38-7 route of San Jose State, many were left wondering what Wisner’s status was going to be for the matchup with the Miners.

According to Sarkisian, the starting running back will likely be held out for yet another week.

“I’d probably say today, he’s doubtful. I’m not ruling him out. At this juncture of the season, I’m just not in a rush to push guys back out there if they’re not as close to 100% or closer,” Sarkisian said. “I know what it’s going to look like in October, November, December, and hopefully January. Is the juice worth the squeeze right now? For Saturday, we’re rehabbing them.”

This is realistically the best move that Sarkisian could make, considering the strength of the schedule will pick up pretty heavily soon and carry through for the rest of the regular season, and hopefully for Texas, into the postseason as well.

Texas did fine without Wisner on Saturday, and they’ll do fine without him participating in the UTEP game, too. Realistically, the Longhorns would be fine without him for these next two games. As long as he’s good to go for Florida, then all is good.