The No. 3 Sooners will be without senior tight end Jermaine Gresham in Saturday’s season opener against No. 20 Brigham Young University due to cartilage damage sustained in his right knee.
OU head coach Bob Stoops said in a press release that Gresham, team doctors and athletic training staff members are currently considering treatment options that would determine how soon he could return.
The six-foot-six-inch Ardmore native suffered the injury during Tuesday’s practice, and team doctors and trainers are continuing evaluations on the knee, Stoops said.
At the end of summer practices, Stoops said Gresham was the team’s best receiver after the departures of wide receivers Manuel Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias and Quentin Chaney.
Last season, Gresham was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, awarded to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision’s best tight end, after bringing in 66 receptions for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns.
OU’s depth chart listed Gresham as OU’s No. 1 tight end prior to his injury. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said in a press release sophomores Trent Ratterree and James Hanna will be stepping up to fill the role.
Hanna saw playing time last season, while Ratterree did not. In 13 games last year, Hanna caught one pass for a loss of one yard against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Ratterree did have a good showing at this past spring’s Red-White Game, where he caught four passes for 11 yards before he had to leave the game due to a minor injury.
The only other option the Sooners have at tight end is senior center Brody Eldridge, who will start at center against BYU despite recently moving over to the position. In the past Eldridge has played tight end, fullback and as a blocking back.
Outside of the tight ends, Bradford will have to rely on the running backs and inexperienced wide receivers to make plays in OU’s passing game be the difference makers in the offense. The only wide receiver with significant playing time is sophomore Ryan Broyles, who is listed as the starting slot receiver but has played as a split end.
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