Injury updates: Brent Venables provides clarity on Lewis, Okoye

On his weekly coaches show, Brent Venables provided updates on wide receiver Keontez Lewis and defensive end Danny Okoye ahead of Oklahoma’s matchup with No. 22 Auburn.

Lewis exited Saturday’s game against Temple in the second quarter after taking a hit to the head. Venables said he thought Lewis “had a really good game before getting knocked out” and added, “we expect for him to hopefully be back, so we’ll see.”

Before the injury, Lewis logged 33 snaps and caught three passes for 26 yards. Through three games, he has been one of John Mateer’s most reliable weapons, totaling 15 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Most of that production came in the opener against Illinois State, when he hauled in nine passes for 119 yards and two scores.

If Lewis is available against Auburn, it would be a major boost for Mateer and the Sooners’ offense. If not, expect more opportunities for Ivan Carreon, who played 28 snaps against Temple, and Zion Kearney, who logged 14 snaps and caught two passes for 31 yards.

Venables also addressed the defensive line, which will be without R Mason Thomas for the first half against Auburn after his ejection for targeting last weekend. The good news: Oklahoma will get more help with Danny Okoye, who was in street clothes for Saturday’s game against Temple, set to return.

“Okoye will be back here this week,” Venables said.

Alongside Okoye, Venables noted that Marvin Jones, Taylor Wein, PJ Adebawore, and even Wyatt Gilmore, who recorded his first career sack on Saturday, will all play key roles in filling the void left by Thomas in the first half.