Honestly, the Oklahoma football injury report from this past 2025 season reads a bit like a medical drama script. You’ve got the sudden hospitalizations, the "warrior" quarterbacks playing through surgery, and the defensive stars limping across goal lines. If you're looking for why the Sooners' playoff run ended with a 34-24 loss to Alabama instead of a trophy, you have to look at the trainer's room.
It wasn't just one bad break. It was a slow accumulation of "almosts" and "out for seasons" that eventually caught up to Brent Venables.
By the time the calendar flipped to January 2026, the roster looked vastly different than it did in August. Some guys are healing up for spring ball, while others—well, they’re looking for fresh starts in the portal. Here is the real story of who stayed, who left, and who is still trying to get back to 100%.
The Quarterback Situation: John Mateer’s Hand and the "What Ifs"
The biggest story of the year was undoubtedly John Mateer. He basically carried the offense on his back through that hot 5-0 start. Then came the Auburn game in September.
Mateer suffered a hand injury—specifically a thumb issue—that required immediate surgery. He missed one game, but the fallout lasted months. He’s a tough kid. Venables calls him a "warrior" for a reason. But if you look at the stats, the drop-off was real. Before the surgery, he was lighting up teams like Michigan. Afterward? He finished the year with 2,885 passing yards and 14 touchdowns, but those 11 interceptions tell a story of a guy who couldn't always grip the ball the way he wanted to.
The good news for Sooner fans is that Mateer is officially returning for 2026. He turned down the NFL despite Mel Kiper Jr. having him ranked as a top-five QB prospect. Having a full offseason to let that hand get back to full strength is priority number one in Norman.
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The Offensive Line: A Disaster at Center
If you want to know why the run game felt "off" in the CFP, look at the center position. It was a revolving door of bad luck.
- Troy Everett: He was supposed to be the anchor. Instead, he suffered a "devastating" season-ending injury against Michigan in September. He’s actually since hit the transfer portal to finish his career elsewhere in the SEC.
- Jake Maikkula: The Stanford transfer stepped in and played hero for 10 games. Then, right before the LSU finale, he ended up in the hospital with a serious infection. It was a scary situation that kept him out of full action for weeks.
- The Patchwork Solution: Febechi Nwaiwu, who is naturally a guard, had to slide over to center for the biggest games of the year. He did a hell of a job, but you can’t expect an offense to hum when the guy snapping the ball is playing out of position against Alabama’s defensive front.
Defensive Heartbreak and the "Fumble" That Cost a Star
The defense was the identity of this team, but it took some massive hits late in the year. R Mason Thomas was having an All-SEC type of season—6.5 sacks in just nine games.
Then came the Tennessee game on November 1st.
Thomas picked up a fumble and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. It was a highlight-reel play, but he hobbled across the goal line. He’d torn or severely strained his quad during the sprint. He didn't play again until a limited appearance in the playoffs. Watching him try to chase down Jalen Milroe while clearly at 60% was tough to watch.
While Thomas is gone now (eligibility exhausted), his absence opened the door for Taylor Wein. Wein basically became the breakout star of the late season, leading the team with 14 tackles for loss. If Thomas doesn't get hurt, maybe we don't see Wein's emergence as a legitimate force for 2026.
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The Secondary Shuffle
Gentry Williams just couldn't catch a break. When he’s on the field, he’s a lock-down corner. The problem is he hasn't been on the field much since the South Carolina win on October 18th.
He underwent shoulder surgery and missed the entire back half of the season.
Basically, the injury report became a permanent home for him. It’s a big reason why he’s now headed to the Georgia Bulldogs via the transfer portal. He needs a fresh start, and OU is moving forward with young guys like Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory.
The Current 2026 Outlook
So, where does the Oklahoma football injury report stand now that we're in the thick of the offseason?
The medical staff is busy. Most of the guys on this list are in "maintenance mode."
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- John Mateer (QB): Full go for spring. The hand is healed, and the focus is on mechanics.
- Jake Maikkula (OL): Recovered from the infection. He’s back in the weight room trying to regain the strength he lost during his hospital stint.
- Xavier Robinson (RB): He dealt with nagging issues all 2025, but he’s expected to be the bell-cow back this fall.
- Kip Lewis (LB): Returning for 2026 and finally 100% after playing through some dings late in the year.
Realities of the "Availability Report"
In the SEC, you can't hide injuries anymore. The conference-mandated availability reports mean every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night, fans are refreshing their feeds to see "Probable," "Questionable," or "Out."
For Oklahoma, the 2025 season was a lesson in depth—or lack thereof. When you lose your starting center and your backup center is a true freshman like Owen Hollenbeck, you’re playing with fire. Venables has clearly learned from this. If you look at the portal additions this January, he went heavy on offensive line depth and tight ends like Jack Van Dorselaer.
The goal is to ensure that when the next Oklahoma football injury report drops in September 2026, a single sprained ankle doesn't derail the entire season.
Actionable Insights for Sooner Fans:
- Monitor Spring Ball Snap Counts: Keep a close eye on Jake Maikkula and Febechi Nwaiwu. If Maikkula is taking 100% of the first-team reps at center, it means the coaching staff is confident his health is fully restored.
- Watch the "Grip": During the Spring Game, watch John Mateer's deep ball. If the velocity is back to his 2024 Washington State levels, the hand injury is officially a thing of the past.
- Depth Chart Evolution: Look for Taylor Wein to solidify a starting edge spot. His play during R Mason Thomas's injury absence proved he's more than just a backup; he's likely the focal point of the 2026 pass rush.
- Transfer Portal Safety Net: OU added Dakoda Fields from Oregon to help cover the loss of Gentry Williams. Watch how quickly he integrates into the defensive back rotation to see if the secondary has actually improved despite the departures.
The 2025 season was a "war of attrition" that Oklahoma ultimately lost in the trenches and at the quarterback spot. With the 2026 season featuring a brutal trip to Athens to face Georgia, staying off the injury report will be the difference between another 10-win season and a legitimate run at the national title.