Texas football RB CJ Baxter reportedly suffers an injury in practice. What it means for Texas.

CJ Baxter, a sophomore projected as the starting running back for Texas football, suffered a knee injury during Tuesday’s practice and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, according to reporting by Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com.

A fomer five-star recruit in the 2023 class from Florida, Baxter earned the starting job as a freshman last season before a rib injury in the season-opener limited his playing time and opened the door for Jonathon Brooks to seize the starting job. After Brooks’ season ended with a torn knee ligament in November, Baxter and Jaydon Blue shared the bulk of the carries for the final four games of the season, including a loss to Washington in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

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What would Baxter’s absence mean for Texas?

Last season, Baxter tallied 138 carries for 659 yards and five touchdowns to go with 24 receptions for 156 yards while Blue added 398 yards and three touchdowns rushing on 65 carries and another 135 yards on 14 carries. The two were expected to again carry the load in the backfield this season; both Baxter and Blue earned a spot on the preseason Doak Walker Award list, a postseason honor for the nation’s top running back.

Blue, a third-year junior who has played in 23 games, would likely get most of the carries if Baxter misses any time. One of the fastest players on the squad, the 6-foot, 200-pounder from the Houston suburb of Klein boasts game-breaking ability but only has 80 carries in his career.

Sophomore Tre Wisner is expected to handle some third-down duties for Texas this season but could see extended snaps with the absence of Baxter. Freshmen Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark could also be in line for expanded roles.