Texas Longhorns

Injury to RT Kent Perkins is major blow to Texas offense

Published Sep. 26, 2015 11:21 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Texas Longhorns suffered a second consecutive kick to the gut in Saturday's loss to No. 24 Oklahoma State, and then found out they most much more.

Junior defensive tackle Kent Perkins left the game in the second half with a knee injury and coach Charlie Strong told reporters he fears Perkins will "take some time" before he can return.

According to Longhorns Sports Radio, the Longhorns' offense practically dissolved when Perkins left the game. Quarterback Jerrod Heard was sacked five times. He was sacked twice before Perkins' exit.

This is very bad news. He was Texas' second- or third-best lineman, and the gap to fourth-best is huge. https://t.co/hvtDjMogZU
— LonghornSportsRadio (@LonghornsRadio) September 27, 2015

The Longhorns struggled all of last season with a patchwork line and entered the 2015 season with little depth. Senior Marcus Hutchins, a starter last season at right tackle filled in, but was unimpressive and later lifted for junior-college transfer Tristan Nickelson.

Texas dropped to 1-3 after a second consecutive heartbreak loss at the end of the game. The Longhorns face a difficult two-week stretch coming up, playing at No. 3 TCU and then No. 15 Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.