Oklahoma Sooners junior wide receiver Jayden Gibson will miss the regular season after suffering a knee injury in practice last week.
Sooners head coach Brent Venables confirmed the news Tuesday to reporters.
“You hate that for anybody, the season comes to an end prematurely,”But that’s a group that we feel really good about who’s in that group,” Venables said, via ESPN.
Gibson hauled in 14 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns last season, and was expected to take a bigger role in Oklahoma’s offense after the graduation of leading 2023 receiver Drake Stoops.
Despite being fifth on the team in receiving yards and seventh on the team in receptions, Gibson’s height and speed proved advantageous. His five touchdown receptions placed him third behind Stoops and leading returning receiver Nic Anderson, who each had 10. One of Gibson’s most memorable touchdown receptions came in Oklahoma’s season-opening win over the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Jackson Arnold to Jayden Gibson.
Ball placement by Arnold is good, circus catch by Gibson.
Good work by the second team offensive line as well. pic.twitter.com/6DS5k68das
— Matt Blackwell (@Cap_405) September 3, 2023
Oklahoma’s receiving corps should be aided by Anderson’s return and Purdue Boilermakers transfer Deion Burks, who had 47 catches for 629 yards and seven touchdowns for Purdue.
The injury bug hasn’t been kind to the SEC’s two newest members, as the Texas Longhorns lost running backs CJ Baxter and Christian Clark to season-ending lower body injuries in the past week.
Oklahoma opens its season on August 30 against the Temple Owls.
