Texas WR Jordan Whittington needs surgery for meniscus tear

The knee injury suffered by Texas Longhorns redshirt freshman wide receiver Jordan Whittington will keep him out for three to four weeks as he undergoes surgery for a slightly torn meniscus, head coach Tom Herman said during his Monday press conference.

Whittington suffered the injury late in the first half of the 59-3 Texas victory over UTEP on Saturday and did not return. Before leaving the game, Whittington had two catches for 45 yards, including an impressive 43-yard catch and run, and also carried the ball once for 15 yards.

It was Whittington’s first appearance since the season opener against Louisiana Tech last season, when he also left before halftime and did not return. Whittington eventually needed two surgeries on his groin and missed the rest of the season.

Fortunately, Whittington’s current injury seems much more minor.

The injury to Whittington leaves the Longhorns short-handed at the slot receiver position, but Herman said that sophomore Jake Smith’s rehabilitation of his hamstring is going well. Smith is expected back for the Texas Tech game on Sept. 26.

Herman also provided an update on redshirt junior cornerback Josh Thompson, who needed “too many stitches to count” for a laceration on his ear.

Redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Ayodele Adeoye was cleared to play, Herman said, but the coaches decided to hold him out against UTEP. Adeoye suffered a shoulder injury in preseason camp as he was competing for the starting job. Former walk-on Cort Jaquess started in the middle against the Miners instead and recorded five tackles, including one tackle for loss.