Texas Longhorns Coach Steve Sarkisian Updates Tight End Ja'Tavion Sanders Injury

Texas Longhorns tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was injured in the first quarter vs. the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. Now, we have an update on his status.

AUSTIN - The Texas Longhorns got a major scare in their 40-14 blowout of the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon when star tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was injured and forced to leave the game in the first quarter.

Sanders came up limping after getting rolled up on by running back Jonathon Brooks second down in the red zone, and while he was able to get off of the field under his own power, he was in considerable pain. 

After making his way to the sideline, Sanders then immediately entered the injury tent. 

Shortly before the end of the first half, Sanders made his way to the locker room for further evaluation. 

Now, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has updated the status of Sanders, revealing that the Horns are hopeful he will be back by the time the Red River Rivalry kicks off next weekend.

"He got rolled up on," Sarkisian said. "We're hopeful we're gonna get him back next week. It's not anything that we think is truly structural. It's not a broken bone or a torn ligament or something, but how his body responds is how it responds to it." 

Ja'Tavion Sanders tries to make his way off of the field after the injury / © Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman

Through four games (three with at least one catch) entering Saturday's matchup, Sanders was tied with Colorado State's Dallin Holker for first among tight ends in the country with 268 receiving yards, which also leads the Longhorns. 

Sanders' receiving total entering the game was higher than that of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (256), who has been widely regarded as the best tight end in college football, and for good reason.

Before the injury, Sanders had one catch for 10 yards. 

The Longhorns will hope to have Sanders back by next weekend when they travel to Dallas to take on the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners in the annual Red River Rivalry.

Last year against the Sooners, Sanders had a monster game, finishing with five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns.