Will Stein gives promising CJ Baxter injury update ahead of Tennessee matchup

CJ Baxter has had an injury-riddled career. At Texas, he sustained numerous injuries that kept him sidelined for varying lengths of time. When the elite tailback was on the field, his talent was very apparent, but keeping him there has always been the problem. In his time with the Kentucky Wildcats,

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What is the story about?

CJ Baxter has had an injury-riddled career. At Texas, he sustained numerous injuries that kept him sidelined for varying lengths of time. When the elite tailback was on the field, his talent was very apparent, but keeping him there has always been the problem.

In his time with the Kentucky Wildcats, he missed some in the preseason, some of it for precautionary reasons, but to start the actual season, he found himself playing some healthy football and playing really well.

Before the Oklahoma game, Baxter

got the OK to play but didn’t get time due to a soft tissue injury. Then, against Vanderbilt, he returned to the field briefly, logging just four snaps. He took a tough hit early in the contest and never returned to the field.

Now, Kentucky has its biggest game yet on deck with the Tennessee Volunteers hosting Kentucky for its annual “Dark Mode” game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.

So what’s the update on Baxter for this big road game? UK head coach Will Stein provided an update on Tuesday to clear the air on the Wildcats running back, who appears likely to play.

“He’s not the only one across college football, or even on our team, that has shoulder pain”, Stein said. “I think everybody at this point in the year probably does, and he’s going to be ready to rock and roll. I thought he had a really good last week. Had a good day today, so looking forward to him competing.”

The staff and medical team have been very cautious about getting him back into the full thing, and doing their best to get him back on the field for Saturday night in Knoxville.

“It’s a balance. I do think that our trainers, our strength and conditioning, our sports science have done a really great job with CJ, and almost like that load management throughout the week, to where what does he actually need to do,” Stein said.

Kentucky will need a healthy Baxter this weekend against the Vols’ No. 15 defense in the country. We’ll learn more once we receive the first availability report Wednesday evening.