Johnny Hodges, multiple TCU starters out for rest of the season
TCU will be without multiple starters for the final two football games of the regular season.
On Tuesday, coach Sonny Dykes announced that Johnny Hodges would miss the final two games after reinjuring his hand against Texas Tech. Hodges initially injured his hand against Houston on Sept. 16 and missed the next five games before trying to make a comeback in Lubbock.
“Johnny will be done for the season unfortunately. I hate that for him,” Dykes said. “He tried to come back quickly and it just didn’t work out. Johnny is one of those kids that loves his teammates, loves his team, he loves playing football and I know how disappointed he is to not be able to play the rest of the season.”
Due to the COVID season in 2020, Hodges has an extra year of eligibility and Dykes indicated he’ll return for next season.
Hodges was TCU’s leading tackler in 2022 with 87 and was voted second team All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Hodges entered 2023 as a preseason All-Big 12 selection and finished this season with 28 tackles and two sacks in four games.
On offense Dykes also said Dylan Wright and Warren Thompson would miss the final two games. The transfer receivers have started multiple games at the outside receiver position opposite Savion Williams.
Thompson, an Arkansas transfer, is fifth on the team with 246 yards and two touchdowns. Thompson is a super senior and this was his last year of eligibility. Thompson suffered an injury in practice the week of the Texas Tech game.
Wright, a Minnesota transfer, is sixth on the team with 11 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Wright went down with a lower body injury against the Red Raiders. Wright has another year of eligibility and is likely to return next season.
On the positive side, Dykes says there’s a chance Jack Bech could return to the lineup Saturday. It was initially feared he would be done for the season last week.
The Horned Frogs will face Baylor at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
