Baylor football’s initial injury report ahead of its Saturday matchup against TCU came back almost entirely clean, with only fifth-year senior edge rusher Garrick Ponder listed as “questionable.”
Head coach Dave Aranda didn’t mention Ponder (11 tackles, two sacks, forced fumble) or the nature of his injury during his weekly press conference on Monday, but he noted that, coming off a bye week, the team feels its best physically since the start of the season.
“I thought we were able to create momentum during the bye,” Aranda said. “Now we get to a point where we're healthy, we got it all lined up, and we need to be able to create some momentum this week for a really big game coming up on Saturday.”
As for junior quarterback DJ Lagway, who’s been battling through a high-ankle sprain since Week 1, Aranda believes he’s getting back to near full strength. In the dominant 55-19 win over Arizona State on Oct. 3, Lagway had a career day, throwing for 306 yards and four touchdowns, en route to winning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
"Looks improved,” Aranda said when asked about Lagway. “I think from where he was when he played on Saturday to where he is now, much improved. He's running around. There's pocket movement for him. There are quarterback runs for him."
Against the Sun Devils, the ground game finally started to get going as well, as the Bears rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries. Each starting offensive lineman has battled injuries at some point this fall, including left guard Nate Kibble, who exited late against Arizona State.
Aranda provided a positive update on Kibble and the rest of Baylor’s offensive line, saying, “Looking good. Everyone’s full go right now.”
Senior cornerback LeVar Thornton has also played well to start the year with 11 tackles and seven pass break-ups, but he's been doing so with a club on his left hand, and that isn’t expected to change anytime soon.
Aranda didn’t specify the injury, but said, “I think he’s going to be with that for a while. He brings out his alter ego when that thing comes out. He’s played physical, despite it, and I think it’s probably been good for his growth and his physical play.”
Fifth-year senior Devin Turner (hamstring) and junior wide receiver Jadon Porter (foot) were fighting through injuries earlier in the year, and you could tell it affected them against Colorado. Versus Arizona State, however, Turner (five tackles) played 34 snaps, while Porter (3 receptions, 62 yards, touchdown) played 48 snaps and had arguably his best performance in a Baylor uniform.
Assuming the injury report is accurate, and nothing else happens over the course of the week, the Bears should be near full strength (4-1, 2-0) when rival TCU (2-3, 0-2) comes to Waco for a matchup at 6 p.m. CDT on Saturday, Oct. 17, at McLane Stadium.
Baylor will miss fifth-year senior defensive lineman Devonte Tezino (ankle) and senior safety Jacob Redding (ACL), both with season-ending injuries, as well as freshman cornerback Jamarion Richardson, senior offensive lineman Cayden Tone, and sophomore wide receiver Ashton Jones.
