TCU Needs Healthy Josh Doctson to Get Back Into Big 12 Title Race

The TCU Horned Frogs are coming off their first loss of the season and just their second loss in the last two seasons, losing 49-29 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Not only did TCU lose the game, they also lost their star receiver Josh Doctson to a wrist injury in the first half. If the Horned Frogs hope to rebound and still be in the mix for the Big 12 title at season’s end, they need Doctson to make a full and speedy recovery, even if it means sitting him for their Week 11 game against the Kansas Jayhawks.

Doctson has been TCU’s best pass-catcher this season and is making an indelible mark on the record book of this program as he wraps up his collegiate career. This season, he’s recorded 78 receptions for 1,315 yards with 14 touchdowns, all team highs, averaging 8.7 catches and 146.1 yards per game. He already holds the school records for receiving yardage and touchdowns and is just two receptions away from the school record of 181 career receptions.

Before his injury against the Cowboys, Doctson was on pace for a huge day with six receptions for 64 yards in the first half. The Horned Frogs offense was struggling to get on track even with Doctson, though, managing just nine points in the first half. Without him, the offense continued to struggle as Oklahoma State built up a 42-16 lead heading into the fourth quarter where TCU added a couple of touchdowns to make the final score look a little less lopsided.

The senior receiver is set to see a specialist this week and head coach Gary Patterson said that his status is probably this week against Kansas but the team will need their leading pass-catcher beyond the Jayhawks more than they will need him in Week 11 as Kansas remains winless on the season and does not pose a serious threat to the Horned Frogs. If there is any doubt about the health of Doctson, the team should not hesitate to give him the week off to rest and heal to be available for the team’s final two games of the regular season against the Oklahoma Sooners and Baylor Bears.

If TCU hopes to win the Big 12 this season, they will need to be at their best in the final two games and they will need a healthy Josh Doctson to get it done. The team should maintain their focus on the home stretch of the regular season, even if they end up at less than full-strength this week against and overmatched Kansas team.

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