OU football changed the injury status of running back Jovantae Barnes, wide receiver Keontez Lewis and tight end Kade McIntyre.
Barnes, Lewis and McIntyre are now listed as out on the Friday night availability report. All three had been listed as doubtful Thursday.
Barnes was injured during pregame ahead of the Texas game last Saturday. Barnes has 19 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown in four games for the Sooners this season.
“We thought initially it was hamstring, but there’s something else,” head coach Brent Venables said. “I think it’ll be a short-term thing, I don’t really have any more information.”
Lewis returned to action against the Longhorns last week after a scary collision caused him to be stretchered off the field against Kent State.
Offensive lineman Logan Howland is doubtful to play against the Gamecocks. OU is thin at offensive tackle with Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor still out.
“It’s the next man up mentality,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said on Tuesday. “So you got to continue getting guys back and healthy. So that comes from their process and recovery.
“We have to continue to work on that, but it’s a next man up mentality.”
The Sooners face South Carolina at 11:45 p.m. CT on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Here is the full Friday availability report for the Sooners-Gamecocks game:
OU football vs South Carolina availability report
OU
- RB Jovantae Barnes – Out
- OL Troy Everett – Out
- DB Kendel Dolby – Out
- OL Logan Howland – Doubtful
- WR Keontez Lewis – Out
- TE Kade McIntyre – Out
- OL Jacob Sexton – Out
- OL Jake Taylor – Out
South Carolina
- DB Brandon Cisse – Probable
- OL Nolan Hay – Out
- OL Cason Henry – Out
- OL Davonte Miles – Out
- WR Brian Rowe Jr. – Out
- OL Jatavius Shivers – Questionable
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football to be without RB Jovantae Barnes vs South Carolina
