Texas
Texas football RB CJ Baxter reportedly suffers an injury in practice. What it means for Texas.
Texas football team holds first week of practices ahead of 2024 season
The American-Statesman looks back at the practices we saw and the interviews that were conducted during the first week of Texas’ fall camp.
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.
More: Texas football RBs CJ Baxter, Jaydon Blue learning pass protection as important as yards
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.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
Watch CBS News
A Texas state trooper was killed in a crash in the Panhandle, becoming the 244th Texas Department of Public Safety officer to die in the line of duty since 1823, according to the agency.
Sergio Romero, 27, died Wednesday after a semi-truck pulled in front of him as he attempted a traffic stop around 4 p.m. on U.S. 287 in Childress County, DPS said.
In a statement, Col. Freeman F. Martin praised Romero’s courage, integrity, and service.
“Today, we grieve the loss of one of our own,” Martin said. “… Our hearts break alongside his family, friends, fellow troopers, and all who loved him. We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice he made in service of his fellow Texans.”
Romero previously served with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office before joining DPS as part of Class B-2025 in Childress, the agency said.
He is survived by his wife, Francisca, and their two young sons.
Funeral arrangements are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
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