Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson sustained an apparent right knee injury against UCLA on Saturday and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley announced the news Sunday evening.
“We’re heartbroken for him,” Riley said. “He’s overcome so much in his career, and if anybody can do it again it’s Rodney.
“He’s played a lot of great football and has a lot more ahead of him. He’s just a tremendous person and player and we’ll miss him on the field. But we know he’ll be with us every step of the way as a team captain, and that other players will step up in his place.”
Anderson was injured on the final play of the first quarter after being tackled by Rick Wade and Adarius Pickett following a 10-yard run. Anderson came up holding his right knee and was taken to the locker room before the team ruled him out for the rest of the contest.
Kyler Murray kept an option to run for a 10-yard touchdown on the following play to give the Sooners a 21-7 lead.
Anderson led the FBC in yards from scrimmage over his last seven games in 2017, including a 201-yard, two-touchdown performance against Georgia in the Rose Bowl.
The junior rushed for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
Anderson scampered for 100 yards and two touchdowns on only five carries in the Sooners’ win against Florida Atlantic last weekend.
He exited Saturday’s contest after rushing six times for 19 yards — including a 3-yard score. Anderson returned to the Sooners’ sideline in street clothes with his right leg heavily wrapped.
Injuries are nothing new for Anderson, who saw his 2015 campaign cut short with a leg injury. He also sustained a neck injury in fall camp that held him out for the 2016 season.
Sophomore Trey Sermon replaced Anderson in the backfield.
