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Opportunities for backups to get repetitions at safety during spring practice for the Texas Longhorns increased on Tuesday with the news that sophomore Caden Sterns, a freshman All-American last season, underwent knee surgery for patellar tendinitis and will miss six to eight weeks, head coach Tom Herman told Kirk Bohls and Trenton Daeschner at Austin Country Club.
Sterns missed part of the Big 12 championship game and the Sugar Bowl as a result of a knee injury, but it’s not clear if his Tuesday procedure was connected to that particular injury.
The Cibolo Steele product earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors after leading the team with four interceptions and recording 62 tackles. Sterns also blocked a field goal against USC that linebacker Anthony Wheeler returned for a game-changing touchdown.
Texas is also without senior Brandon Jones for spring practice due to ankle surgery, as well as sophomore BJ Foster, who is out indefinitely after suffering a concussion during Monday’s practice.