The Horns continue to take a cautious approach with Baxter less than a year after his torn knee ligaments.
In an appearance on “Always College Football” with Greg McElroy on Thursday, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian provided an update on redshirt sophomore running back CJ Baxter as he continues his recovery from the LCL and ACL tears that ended his 2025 season during preseason camp.
According to a report from Inside Texas 10 days ago, Baxter was cleared for football activities, marking the first time he’d participated in drills since suffering the injury.
But the Longhorns staff continues to take a risk-averse approach with the 6’1, 232-pounder.
“We’ve been methodical in our approach with him,” Sarkisian said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him in his recovery. My thing with that is, I don’t want to put him out there before he’s really ready to play. He’s given me no reason not to think that he’s not going to be ready.”
Part of the caution is a result of lessons learned from former Texas players who pushed hard to return from ACL injuries only to re-tear the same ligaments, situations that created serious setbacks for Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks and Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
The other aspect of the caution employed by Sarkisian is the quality depth in the position room assembled by recently-departed assistant Tashard Choice, now with the Detroit Lions.
“I guess I’m being a little more cautious than most, because I can be knowing that, hey, I’ve got I’ve got these three other guys in that room. I’ve got a wild card in Ryan Niblett. I’ve got a true freshman in James Simon. Like we have other players in that room,” Sarkisian said.
That includes 1,000-yard rusher Quinrevion Wisner, the junior who had a breakout season in 2025 after taking advantage of the opportunities provided by injuries at the position like the knee injury sustained by Baxter.
So when Baxter does make his return, it will be at 100-percent health.
“I want to make sure, when CJ Baxter plays for us, he’s ready to play. It could be Week One against Ohio State that if he’s ready, he’s going to play. Could it be, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four? Could it be our SEC opener at Florida? I don’t know,” Sarkisian admitted.
“I know we’re a better team when Cedric Baxter’s healthy and ready to go, but I’m don’t feel like I’m in a place where, man, I need C4 against Ohio State or we’re in trouble.”
It’s not a position that Texas has always been in during recent years, but it is a direct result of how Sarkisian has tried to build depth across his program.
“It’s a little bit of a luxury because I don’t feel like I’m gonna have to force him back to play maybe when he’s not quite ready to go. But he’ll tell us when he’s ready and when that time comes, it’s going to be go time for him.,” Sarkisian said.