Unfortunately for the Oklahoma Sooners, there has been a new daily surprise on their injury report before what's a do-or-die game for their College Football Playoff chances.
Based on Thursday's SEC Availability Report ahead of the No. 11 Sooners' trip to No. 4 Alabama on Saturday, OU could be without four potential defensive starters because of injuries as the list has grown each day.
Gentry Williams injury update
Cornerback Gentry Williams was the latest surprise after popping up as doubtful on Thursday's availability report after not being on it at all the day before. That status gives Williams a 25% chance to play against Alabama.
Williams has started at corner in five of six games he's appeared in this season. Sophomore Eli Bowen will likely fill in if Williams' status doesn't improve before Saturday. With Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson asserting himself as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, the secondary is one of the Sooners' biggest question marks heading into the matchup, and now there are even more unknowns.
Most of the Sooners' injuries are among the front seven, which will be vital in getting pressure on Simpson. The first surprise of the week was sophomore defensive tackle Jayden Jackson popping up as questionable on Wednesday. His status was the same on Thursday. He has started six times this season while tallying 22 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks.
Anticipated injuries were defensive end R Mason Thomas and MIKE linebacker Kobie McKinzie, who are both usual starters. McKinzie is likely to play after being listed as probable all week, which is especially important going on the road since McKinzie wears the communication helmet and calls the plays.
Thomas, though, has been questionable all week after injuring his quad in the Sooners' last game against Tennessee two weeks ago. He has a 50% chance to play against Alabama based on that status. Thomas leads the Sooners with 6.5 sacks, plus has 23 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss.
The next SEC Availability Report will be released Friday evening, and that update is usually the most telling coming the night before kickoff.