Texas LB Malik Jefferson ruled out for the Texas Bowl

There was no miracle on Wednesday evening, as Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman said that junior linebacker Malik Jefferson tried to play in the Texas Bowl against the Missouri Tigers with a turf toe injury, but was ruled out just before game time.

Earlier in the evening, Herman had initially ruled Jefferson out for the game, but after a change of plans, he suited up and went through warmups in an attempt to play.

Jefferson hasn’t practiced in recent weeks after a specialist recommended rest and Herman said on Tuesday that it would take a miracle for his leading tackler to get on the field in Houston.

Junior Anthony Wheeler started next to Jefferson early in the season before he was benched in favor of junior college transfer Gary Johnson and is the likely replacement for the Big 12’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year.