Bob Stoops: Casey Walker questionable Saturday, and future past that is unclear

Senior defensive tackle Casey Walker (53) returned to Oklahoma's practice Monday. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO

Stoops wouldn’t detail what he said was a non-football injury and “personal issue.”

If Walker is unable to play, JaMarkus McFarland and senior David King, who moved inside while Stacy McGee serves his indefinite suspension, will start at the tackle spots, with redshirt freshman Jordan Phillips playing a much larger reserve role than was originally expected.

When asked if Walker’s issue looked like it would be a long-term one, Stoops said, “I don’t know.”

OU certainly can and will survive UTEP and Florida A&M with a thinner-than-it-would-like defensive line. Then, the Sooners have a bye the week of Saturday, Sept. 15, and their final bye of the regular season two weeks later.

I had thought that Oklahoma getting both its byes so early could result in some health issues later in the season, when the Sooners are playing week after week without a break.

In light of recent events, a friend asked if OU fans could wind up seeing these early off weeks as a godsend.

Eh, maybe, although these injuries are obviously happening outside of games. Still, junior-college transfer defensive end Chaz Nelson is recovering from an injury and could be back around the start of October. There’s no way to know if McGee’s suspension will be lifted by then, although it does definitely seem doubtful.