Texas Longhorns Coach Steve Sarkisian Provides Injury Update on Maalik Murphy
AUSTIN, Texas -- Ahead of their meeting with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12 Championship in Arlington on Saturday, Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian provided a positive injury update on quarterback Maalik Murphy.
Murphy practiced on Monday and Sarkisian said he "feels good" about him being active on Saturday as the backup to Quinn Ewers.
Murphy didn't play in Friday's 57-7 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but injured his non-throwing shoulder on Keilan Robinson's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to begin the third quarter after getting hit with some friendly fire on blocks that leaked into the Texas sidelines.
This paved the way for five-star freshman Arch Manning to enter the blowout late in the third quarter before finishing out the game.
Maalik Murphy
© Maria Lysaker, USA TODAY
Murphy started two games for Texas this season while Quinn Ewers nursed an injured throwing shoulder. Murphy won both starts in wins over BYU and Kansas State, but was a bit up-and-down at times.
This season, he's gone 39 of 70 passing for 465 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also lost a fumble.
After the win over Texas Tech, Sarkisian said that Murphy's injury was "unfortunate," which clouded his status for Saturday.
"Maalik got caught watching the game," Sarkisian said. "He got hit on the sidelines, so we had to take him in and we've got to see just how injured he is. He kind of hurt his non-throwing shoulder, so hopefully we can get him back and get him healthy. It was an unfortunate situation that way."
However, he's now trending in the right direction.
Kickoff on Saturday is set for 11 a.m. CT.
