OU Football Practice Observations: Injuries, Lineup Changes, and Offensive Experiments

The Sooners held their fourth spring practice, with several key players sidelined and the coaching staff trying new looks on offense.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:11am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football practice, with players and equipment broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.Spring practice provides a glimpse into the Sooners' plans for the upcoming season, as the coaching staff experiments with new offensive looks and players recover from injuries.Norman Today

Oklahoma football held its fourth spring practice on Monday, with several notable players sitting out due to injuries, including wide receivers Jer'Michael Carter and Elijah Thomas, running back Xavier Robinson, and offensive lineman Ryan Fodje. The coaching staff was also experimenting with different offensive looks, including lining up Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant at receiver and utilizing freshman wide receiver Jahsiear Rogers in the backfield. Head coach Brent Venables spent much of practice observing the offense, particularly the tight ends coached by Jason Witten.

Why it matters

These spring practices are crucial for the Sooners as they look to rebuild and retool their roster after a disappointing 2025 season. Injuries to key players and experimentation with the offense could provide insight into the team's plans and priorities heading into the fall.

The details

Several Sooners players sat out practice due to various injuries, including wide receivers Jer'Michael Carter and Elijah Thomas, running back Xavier Robinson, and offensive lineman Ryan Fodje. The coaching staff was also trying out some new offensive looks, with Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant lining up at receiver and freshman wide receiver Jahsiear Rogers being utilized in the backfield. Head coach Brent Venables spent the majority of practice observing the offense, particularly the tight ends coached by Jason Witten.

  • The Sooners held their fourth spring practice on Monday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Jer'Michael Carter

A wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners who did not participate in practice due to an injury.

Elijah Thomas

A wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners who did not participate in practice due to an injury.

Xavier Robinson

A running back for the Oklahoma Sooners who did not participate in practice due to an injury.

Ryan Fodje

An offensive lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners who did not participate in practice due to an injury.

Brent Venables

The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners who spent the majority of practice observing the offense.

Jason Witten

The tight ends coach for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Lloyd Avant

A transfer from Colorado State who was lined up at receiver during practice.

Jahsiear Rogers

A freshman wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners who was being utilized in the backfield during practice.

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What they’re saying

“Several key players were out with injuries, which is concerning, but it's also good to see the coaching staff experimenting with different looks on offense. That kind of creativity and flexibility could pay dividends down the road.”

— Colton Sulley, Reporter

What’s next

The Sooners are expected to hold a scrimmage later this week, which will provide more insight into the team's progress and potential lineup changes.

The takeaway

These spring practices are crucial for the Sooners as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. While the injuries to key players are concerning, the coaching staff's willingness to experiment with the offense and try new looks is a positive sign that they are committed to finding the best path forward for the team.