Rocky Beers added to injury report just as Jason Witten could grow his importance to OU

It seems like every week Oklahoma has a surprise addition to its already lengthy injured list, and on Wednesday, it was tight end Rocky Beers.

Beers was listed as questionable on the initial availability report ahead of the Sooners' trip to play No. 24 Florida on Saturday night in Gainesville. It's Oklahoma, so obviously he wasn't the only name listed.

Other statuses to watch throughout the week include wide receiver Elijah Thomas and offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis as doubtful; wide receiver Jer'Michael Carter, safety Peyton Bowen, cornerback Eli Bowen, and defensive lineman Kenny Ozowalu as questionable; and starting center Jake Maikkula as probable.

Fellow tight end Trynae Washington is also out again.

Sooners could need Rocky Beers more than ever with Jason Witten calling plays

Beers' debut on the availability report comes at the worst time, because it's just as his position coach, Jason Witten, has been promoted to play-caller after offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was fired on Monday. We don't really know what to expect from Witten since it's his first time calling plays at the college level, but you can bet he'll rely on the players he trusts the most, which would be the guys from his own position room.

The Sooners completely transformed the tight end room when they hired Witten over the offseason. It had been a disappointing position the last few seasons, but it has been the strength of OU's offense this season, completely flipping the script. That's even more reason for Witten to make his tight ends a centerpiece of what the Sooners do moving forward.

Beers transferred from Colorado State to Oklahoma, along with Hayden Hansen from Florida and Jack Van Dorselaer from Tennessee. Hansen, listed at a monstrous 6-foot-8 and 266 pounds, was brought in with the purpose of bolstering run blocking, while Beers was expected to be a spark in the passing game.

There was optimism for Beers after just breaking the Colorado State single-season tight end record with seven touchdown catches. There was also still hesitation, though, about Beers producing after jumping to the SEC level.

Eight games into the season, it's become clear that Beers is maybe the Sooners' most valuable portal addition this year. He has 34 receptions for 446 yards and four TDs. He leads the Sooners in touchdown catches, while his receptions and receiving yards are second on the team behind top wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III.

Beers has also been a consistent target for quarterback John Mateer, with multiple receptions in every game so far, including at least four catches in the past five outings. That reliable of a target will be even more vital if OU finally makes a change at QB and throws out an inexperienced Whitt Newbauer or Bowe Bentley.

Whatever Witten decides to dial up, Beers will be needed. There's hope Witten commits to the run more, which could mean more 12- and 13-personnel, as we saw in Week 1. Hansen might be the best blocker of the bunch, but Beers would also be crucial on the other side.

More play-action would also open up more opportunities for Beers to do damage. He breaks away for a gain of 20-plus yards nearly every game to get a drive really going toward the end zone. Then, once the Sooners are in the red zone, a 6-foot-5 target is easy to find.

Beers is poised to become more important than ever in Witten's system, but that will require him to be healthy.

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