Missouri football injury update — Tight end Brett Norfleet ruled out of Texas A&M matchup
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
True freshman quarterback Matt Zollers will be without a key playmaker when he makes his first start as Mizzou’s quarterback.
Missouri football tight end Brett Norfleet was ruled out of the Tigers’ game against Texas A&M on Saturday in Columbia, according to the SEC-mandated availability and injury report that the Tigers published Friday night.
Norfleet sustained a separated shoulder in the second half of MU’s last game against Vanderbilt on Oct. 25 but was given a “day-to-day” assessment by head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Norfleet appeared on both the Wednesday and Thursday reports as “questionable,” which indicated that Mizzou was still hopeful that he could play.
But, Friday’s report delivered the conclusive “out” designation that officially will rule Norfleet as an absentee in a crucial game against the unbeaten Aggies.
There were no other surprises on Mizzou’s availability report.
As was already confirmed, quarterbacks Beau Pribula and Sam Horn and placekicker Blake Craig will miss the matchup. Horn and Craig sustained season-ending injuries in Week 1. Pribula sustained a “non-fractured dislocated ankle” against Vanderbilt that makes it unlikely he will return in the regular season, although the team has provided no official timeline for his recovery.
Mizzou likely will turn to Jordon Harris and Jude James to fill the missing reps from Norfleet on Saturday.
Norfleet leads all SEC tight ends with five touchdowns this season, which is also the most among all MU pass-catchers. He had 26 catches for 224 yards through eight games.
The Aggies will be without starting running back Le’Veon Moss and key defensive players in linebacker Scooby Williams and safety Bryce Anderson. Moss was injured Oct. 11 and is yet to return. Williams and Anderson have both been in and out of the lineup with injuries, but typically play regular snaps when they’re healthy.
Mizzou’s game against Texas A&M is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 on Faurot Field in Columbia. If Missouri loses, its path to the College Football Playoff closes.
The Tigers were No. 22 in the CFP committee’s initial rankings Tuesday night. Texas A&M was the top-ranked SEC team at No. 3.
The SEC-mandated reports are required of member organizations every night beginning Wednesday in the leadup to an in-conference matchup, with the final report publishing 90 minutes before kickoff.
The possible designations, from most likely to play to least likely, are: available; probable; questionable; doubtful; out.
Missouri and Texas A&M will release one final report pregame Saturday.
Missouri football’s full Friday availability report
- QB Beau Pribula (out)
- QB Sam Horn (out)
- K Blake Craig (out)
- TE Brett Norfleet (out)
Texas A&M full Friday availability report
- RB Le’Veon Moss (out)
- LB Scooby Williams (out)
- S Bryce Anderson (out)
- S Rashad Johnson Jr. (out)
What is the availability report?
The SEC-mandated reports are not technically injury reports, which some teams — Mizzou often included — provided in years prior. Instead, they are lists that include any players ruled unavailable or possibly unavailable for upcoming games. That could be for any number of reasons, including but not limited to injuries.
The reports are only mandated before in-conference matchups and are closely linked to the growing sports gambling market.
Inaccurate or late reports in football are subject to fines ranging from $25,000-$100,000.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Brett Norfleet injury — Missouri football starting TE out vs Texas A&M
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos