Oklahoma avoids worst-case scenario with latest Jake Maikkula injury update

It's still not the kind of news fans want during the preseason, but Oklahoma fans actually got some good news on the bad news.

On3's Pete Nakos and George Stoia reported on Monday that OU starting center Jake Maikkula avoided a season-ending injury, which is obviously not what anyone wants before a game is even played, but it's still better than what many feared after hearing Maikkula suffered a serious knee injury during OU's intersquad scrimmage on Saturday.

Maikkula was rolled up on during the scrimmage and the immediate worry was that it actually was going to end his fifth season before it even got started. According to Sooners on SI's John Hoover, Maikkula underwent an MRI on Monday and the results revealed a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL).

Jake Maikkula injury still comes at worst time for Sooners

Based on the recent update, Maikkula is now expected to be out 4-6 weeks, which is still not ideal with the Sooners having a big-time matchup against Michigan on Sept. 12, which would be exactly four weeks from when Maikkula was injured. Exactly six weeks from the time the injury was suffered is the Sooners' trip to Georgia on Sept. 26, followed by a bye week, then the Red River Rivalry against Texas on Oct. 10.

Reality is, the early part of the season is actually the worst time for the Sooners to have such a vital piece either out or still getting back in the swing of things. Even if Maikkula returns at the earliest possible, this still means he'll be sidelined the rest of OU's fall camp and be knocking off rust during the toughest part of OU's schedule with three ranked opponents in the first five games.

Maikkula is the most experienced offensive lineman the Sooners have as a fifth-year senior. He transferred from Stanford last spring before eventually taking over the Sooners' starting center job Week 2. He made 10 starts before missing the final two games of the season because of an infection that put him in the hospital. He has 26 career starts under his belt between both schools.

That puts a damper on the Sooners' offensive line hype while returning four of five starters from 2025. Three of those starters, though, were freshmen last year, with Maikulla serving as the clear leader.

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Center is also where the Sooners lack the most reliable depth. When Maikkula was out last year, Febechi Nwaiwu had to slide over from right guard and make his first career starts at center. Nwaiwu has since graduated and now plays for the Houston Texans.

The Sooners brought in Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta over the offseason for more depth at center, but offensive lineman coach Bill Bedenbaugh will most likely shuffle his best guys around to assemble the best starting O-line for while they're without Maikkula.

Oklahoma certainly avoided the worst-case scenario with Maikkula's injury, but the timing and position still couldn't be worse.

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