The sixth practice of Oklahoma’s 2025 fall camp wrapped up Wednesday in Norman, and the biggest headline isn’t schedule or position battles—it’s injuries, particularly at the running back position. Three key backs—including transfer star Jaydn Ott—are currently sidelined from full practice, undergoing rehab exercises off to the side, though the specifics of the injuries are not listed. The cautious approach speaks volumes about how much the Sooners value health after last year’s cascade of injuries.
According to Parker Thune of On3 | Rivals’ OU Insider, “Minor (emphasis on MINOR) injuries to Jaydn Ott, Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum,” spotted during practice, have kept them out of full drills while medical staff monitor progress closely. Though no longer fully injured, they were dressed out and participating in rehab work instead of taking full reps. “The #Sooners are naturally being quite cautious … after everything that happened last year,” Thune wrote via X.
Further updates from George Stoia of Sooner Scoop confirmed the medical staff believes Ott’s situation is minor—but signals the program isn’t risking further setbacks. After last year’s season-ending injuries to multiple backs—including Ott himself while at Cal—there’s no room for missteps.
Why This Matters
The Sooners’ running back room is central to their projected offensive resurgence in 2025. Jaydn Ott, the former Cal standout, is expected to be Oklahoma’s RB1—if healthy. His impact will determine how balanced and explosive Ben Arbuckle’s revamped offense can be. Behind him, Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson, and Taylor Tatum give Oklahoma much needed depth. Keep in mind that last year’s carousel that had five backs tier over 20 carries on the season.
With their injuries limiting early reps, the sense of urgency seems magnified. If any of those guys is out too long, it puts pressure on the backup depth and pacing of the offense’s installation. The Sooners are banking on those players returning and being available by program’s two scrimmages and, most importantly, the Aug. 30 opener against Illinois State—then a massive early-season showdown with Michigan looming one week later.
Scrimmage Preview: The Burnout Window
Oklahoma will have its first fall scrimmage this Saturday, and head coach Brent Venables made it clear the goal is execution over spectacle.
“Just, how we play … The effort. We don’t want it to be sloppy. Taking care of the football, making good decisions on offense. Playing within the scheme … all the hidden yardage. We’ve worked some of those situations … and then no sloppiness tackling on defense,” Venables said Wednesday.
He added that special teams and situational knowledge will be tested too, including kickoffs, punt drills, and coverage alignment. Defensive coordination is firmly in his hands this year—and he wants to see discipline early.
This upcoming scrimmage will also be the first in fall camp to go live, offering insight into how John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle’s offense holds up against Venables’ defense. Many of the position battles—especially for offensive line and wide receiver—are still wide open, so Saturday will be a key barometer, particularly if Ott and other starters remain on the sideline.
Health on the Mind of All
Beyond the running backs, several high-profile contributors have also been monitored closely this week. Tight end Kaden Helms, expected to fill a key position battle role, was seen with a cast on his right hand—a precautionary measure stemming from Monday’s practice.
Defensive linemen Gracen Halton, Adepoju Adebawore, and Jacob Henry were among those rehabbing off to the side, adding to the impression that OU is purposely ramping up workloads carefully. Deion Burks suited up for Wednesday’s practice, but was mostly a quarterback target during drills rather than a full practice asset.
Even with so many names limited, Venables reportedly has been impressed with the energy. “Outside of game week we’re at 12 or fewer practices before we have to be ready to go. We don’t have a day to waste,” he remarked. The team is balancing urgency with prudence—and paying attention to every little knock.
Former Cowboy Sees Sooner Chance—If They Stay Healthy
A surprising voice of optimism this week came from longtime Oklahoma State All-American offensive lineman turned broadcaster, turned normal citizen, Sam Mayes. Despite his OSU ties, Mayes recently tweeted that he sees Sooners in the College Football Playoff picture, backed by one caveat:
“As long as they stay healthy and the offensive line improves.”
Mayes has credibility in Norman after years on local radio where he openly rooted for his rival. But he isn’t alone in being bullish. Sports pundit Paul Finebaum recently noted that Phil Steele has OU ranked as high as No. 8, saying the team has the potential to “have a big-time year” if quarterback John Mateer stays elite in this revamped scheme.
Offense Still Narrowing In
Venables also commented on installation challenges, noting camp might feel slow at times due to injuries limiting repetition. But he’s comfortable with what’s been installed so far:
“At the same time, a lot of the things that they’ve been able to establish and install have been impressive … they’ve got a really good synergy about them.”
He stressed that while some parts aren’t fully available yet, the group is showing cohesion on both sides—despite a demanding install.
The offense will get substantially faster once Ott, Robinson, and Tatum return full-time. Until then, the others will continue to rotate reps to build rhythm, mental reps, and confidence.
What We’re Watching This Weekend
- RB Health: Will Ott run? Will Barnes stay on the field? How aggressive are Murray and trainers?
- Offensive Line: This group has received early praise for stabilizing. Saturday will show if they’re ready against live opposition.
- John Mateer & WR Reps: With several wideouts still dinged, Friday and Saturday could cement pairings.
- Emotion and Clean Execution: Will they take care of the football? No turnovers and sharp tackling will be barometers.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just preseason. For Oklahoma, fall camp is the first chapter of redemption. The program has had losing records in two of the last three seasons, endured SEC growing pains, and now stands unranked by its coaching peers. That level of scrutiny might not be what past Sooner squads got—but it may just be what this one needs.
If Jaydn Ott is fully healthy, and if the offensive line continues trending upward, Oklahoma’s offense should look dramatically better than the unit that ranked near the bottom of nearly every major category last fall. But all of that starts—and potentially stalls—with how those early injured players come back and how the position battles resolve.
The upcoming scrimmage is more than just a practice. It’s a litmus test. Will Oklahoma start to look like a team ready to climb back into playoff conversation—or fall deeper into doubt?
Either way, the narrative is changing. Fall camp isn’t just about installing plays—it’s proving depth, resilience, and vision. Tomorrow’s leader on defense might be the same as last year, but tomorrow’s offense looks like a fresh slate. And Sooner Nation will be watching to see if this crew can rewrite its story.
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6 days into fall camp and the Sooners offense has numerous key offensive players injured, again! Could it be that players trying to earn their way onto the playing field are pressing too hard? Seems like this might be a good idea to dial things back a bit and protect the players.