Oct 26, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton (2) runs the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton left the Red Raiders’ game on Saturday against TCU with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
He was relieved in the second half by freshman quarterback Will Hammond, but coach Joey McGuire says the team’s banged-up players should be ‘good to go’ for Saturday’s game (2:30 p.m. ESPN).
“We’re a little banged up,” McGuire said. “But we also feel like all of those guys that are ‘questionable,’ I don’t see any of those questionable guys not being able to play on Saturday. So, it’s good that we’re going to get those guys back.”
McGuire said that he and his staff were worried about a break, but didn’t find anything wrong after Morton was forced out of the game Saturday.
“I haven’t talked a lot about injuries and doing that, but I will tell you that nothing structurally is wrong with (Morton’s) non-throwing shoulder,” McGuire said. “He’s got a lot of movement back in it.”
Morton has thrown for 2,063 yards and 17 touchdowns so far this season as the Texas Tech starter.
He’s more of a pocket passer, and has only thrown three interceptions through eight games for the Red Raiders.
“We’ll see how he feels (Tuesday) and if he’ll practice (Tuesday) or practice Wednesday,” McGuire said. “We feel really good about that. We were nervous if it was a break, (but we) couldn’t see anything. So, structurally, he’s good to go in his non-throwing shoulder.”
In the absence of Morton, Hammond was 10-15 with 121 yards and a touchdown through the air, along with eight rushes for 16 yards and a score on the ground.
The former four-star prospect has been known to put his legs to use in his time before Texas Tech, too.
“I thought he played very well against TCU,” Iowa State defensive back Darien Porter said. “He had a great first drive. Obviously, it’s tough getting thrown in there like that, but we’ll be prepared. It will be a great challenge for us – our secondary.”
