Texas football: LB Jeffrey McCulloch held out of practice

While most of the injury news was good for Texas football, there was one setback to be reported during Tom Herman's Monday presser.

Linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch is still being held out of practice, according to Herman.

McCulloch left the Longhorns' 34-27 loss to Oklahoma with a separated shoulder and has yet to return to practice.

The team believed he might be ready after the Texas bye week, but Herman said the treatment for the injury 'didn't quite keep progressing' like coaches had hoped.

McCulloch started the season as the team's No. 1 middle linebacker but was supplanted by Juwan Mitchell in the West Virginia game. Still, McCulloch was a key member on the defense, serving both as an important reserve and as a counter to run-heavy offensive formations.

The Longhorns will proceed with Mitchell as the starter with David Gbenda serving as the backup for both the middle linebacker and rover (currently occupied by Ayodele Adeoye) positions.

Texas will continue to monitor McCulloch's situation with hopes of him returning as the Longhorns prepare to make a late run at the Big 12 title.

Head coach Tom Herman acknowledged that the team has little margin for error and is "on the ropes" after a loss to TCU, but believes his squad has the fortitude to run the table and earn a spot in the Big 12 title game for the second-straight year.

In good news on the injury front safties B.J. Foster, DeMarvion Overshown and Caden Sterns, along with running back Jordan Whittington are all either practicing in full or listed as probable for the Longhorns 2:30 showdown against Kansas State on Saturday.