Oklahoma defensive star unlikely to return vs. Tennessee

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The Oklahoma Sooners are in a dogfight with the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville on Saturday night. And it looks like they'll be without one of their best players for the remainder of the game.

The Sooners looked like they might go down 14-0 early in the first quarter when linebacker Owen Heinecke came around the edge and hit Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar and forced a fumble. Defensive end R Mason Thomas scooped up the ball one-handed and rumbled 71 yards for a touchdown to tie the football game.

But on the return, Thomas limped across the goalline and had a noticeable limp, needing help to get to the sideline. After time in the injury tent, ABC sideline reporter Holly Rowe reported that Thomas was unlikely to return for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma is already down Kobie McKinzie, who injured his hamstring last week, and now Thomas. The Sooners will rely on Taylor Wein, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Okoye, and Adepoju Adebawore to carry the load at defensive end in Thomas' absence.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: R Mason Thomas unlikely to return to Oklahoma's matchup vs. Tennessee

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