Longhorns 'Don't Know' if CJ Baxter Injury is Serious

Texas Longhorns freshman running back CJ Baxter exited early due to injury in his collegiate debut on Saturday.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns used a dominant third quarter to cruise to a 37-10 win over the Rice Owls at DKR on Saturday in the season opener.

Unfortunately, they lost their standout freshman running back CJ Baxter early in the game. He got up slowly on the sidelines after breaking off an impressive 33-yard run in the first quarter before being taken to the orange medical tent and eventually heading back to the locker room.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian updated Baxter's status after the game, calling it a "rib issue" that he thinks came as a result of the freshman falling on the ball awkwardly after his long run.

“I think what it looked like was he landed on the ball and kind of had a rib issue that we just wanted to make sure to get checked out," Sarkisian said. "I'm hopeful it's not serious, but we don't know for sure yet.”

Baxter finished with five carries for 38 yards after being listed as a co-starter with Jonathon Brooks prior to the game.

© Scott Wachter, USA TODAY

Texas built a 13-3 lead as a result of the 33-yard pickup but the attention went to Baxter's injury.

Sarkisian praised Baxter during spring ball.

"He doesn't feel like a freshman right now,” Sarkisian said of the 6-1, 215-pound Baxter. “I mean, he worked hard in winter conditioning, he's got a 4.0 GPA, he went out and practiced no-nonsense today. He has provided a real mature mindset to everything that he does.”

Sark said that he's hopeful Baxter is healthy enough for next week's game against Alabama.