Texas injury updates: OL Darius James needs surgery, WR Jaxon Shipley should be okay

In a media availability on Monday, Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong provided updates on two key injured Longhorns.

According to the head coach, redshirt freshman Darius James will need surgery on his knee and is done for the season. While Horns Digest is billing it as confirmation that James suffered an ACL injury, it's not entirely clear that's what Strong said specifically, appearing to leave some question as to the extent of the damage.

If it is indeed an ACL injury, it's possible that James could miss most, if not all, of the 2015 season. And while such injuries aren't typically career-changing for a skill position player, leg injuries are highly concerning for offensive linemen who have less margin for error with their mobility and overall weight.

Recall that James reached at least 340 pounds as a high school senior after he suffered a broken foot during the first half of the season opener for Harker Heights, but had gotten down to 304 pounds at the start of this season, weight loss that allowed him to start two games at tackle.

For depth purposes, Texas will likely need a young guard and a tackle to emerge for next season behind the current starters, but sophomore offensive tackle Camrhon Hughes doing his best to shed his NCAA tag continues to be a massive development there in light of the injury to James.

As for senior wide receiver Jaxon Shipley, who left the game against Oklahoma with a hamstring injury sustained in the first half and did not return, he's expected to be okay for the TCU game, suggesting that it isn't a serious strain. Shipley did, however, suffer a similar hamstring injury in fall camp that limited him at the start of the season.

But it's hard to see Shipley missing the opportunity to play his final home game in Austin unless he simply can't run.

If for some reason the injury continues to give Shipley problems, freshman wide receiver Armanti Foreman flashed some of his upside with his 45-yard touchdown catch and sophomore wide receiver Jacorey Warrick also responded on Saturday with two catches for 19 yards.