Texas RB/WR Daje Johnson reinstated for Baylor game

As Texas Longhorns head coach Mack Brown's Monday press conference was about to begin, the word on suspended running back/wide receiver Daje Johnson was that a decision about his status for the season finale against the Baylor Bears on Saturday would be decided after Tuesday's practice.

Then, minute later, Brown announced that Johnson would be available for the game after he was suspended the previous week for an unspecified violation of team rules. It was the second suspension of Johnson's career after a similar suspension for the 2012 season opener.

Johnson has failed to find the explosive plays on offense that he was able to break off in the opener against New Mexico State since his return from an ankle injury sustained against BYU in the season's second game, but did return a punt for a touchdown against Oklahoma and had one called back against TCU.

However, Johnson fumbled a punt inside the five-yard line against Oklahoma State and had generally been making some questionable decisions there in recent weeks, resulting in Quandre Diggs and Jaxon Shipley being listed ahead of him as co-starters on punt return.

In other news, linebacker Steve Edmond will also miss the bowl game with his lacerated liver. The team expects him back for spring practice, as the injury did not require surgery. As for fellow linebacker Kendall Thompson, he's day-to-day and is experiencing symptoms of a concussion, which would have to be clear for a week for him to play against the Bears.

And offensive tackle Kennedy Estelle is once again listed as the first co-starter at right tackle ahead of Kent Perkins after the true freshman got the start against Texas Tech on Thanksgiving. Estelle replaced Perkins quickly and ended up playing most of the game.

Meanwhile, defensive end Cedric Reed isn't ready to talk about his future next season, significant because he's not definitively saying that he's coming back -- it may end up being about his draft grade in determining whether he stays or goes. Right now, NFL Draft Blitz has updated rankings with Reed sitting as the No. 19 defensive end on the board, providing a little bit of perspective on where evaluators see him right now. In other words, not high enough at the moment to make it a good decision to come out.

Cornerback Carrington Byndom is currently wearing a cast on his right hand after suffering an injury against Texas Tech early. He'll play against Baylor, but said that he'll try to knock down passes instead of going for interceptions and won't be able to press as much on the line of scrimmage, a potential concern since Texas will likely play with a single high safety and press man coverage underneath.