In a tough break for Willie Fritz and the Houston Cougars, junior wideout Stephon Johnson is out vs. Kansas due to a concussion.
The injury occurred during a practice drill, which resulted in Johnson not traveling with the team to take on Kansas in Week 8.
Johnson, a junior wideout from Texas, has posted 18 catches for 202 yards and a score in 2024, which leads the team in yards and catches. Johnson started his career at Oklahoma State for Mike Gundy in 2022 and saw the field as a main contributor. Through three years of college football, the Texas native has recorded 59 grabs for 772 yards and six touchdowns.
An underrated gem in his recruiting class, Johnson checked in as a three-star prospect on the 247Sports index. He was listed as the 522nd-ranked player in his class, the 72nd-ranked player at his position, and the 74th-ranked player in the state of Texas.
In his absence, junior wideout Joseph Manjack IV, senior tight end Maliq Carr, and junior receiver Mekhi Mews will be relied on heavily for the Houston passing attack. With a relatively new face lining up under center, establishing a connection with some of the team’s other top pass catchers will be a major staple going forward.
According to a report from the Houston Chronicle’s Joseph Duarte, Houston is hopeful that Johnson will return in Week 9 vs. Utah.
Kansas leads Houston 28-14 with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter.
