Texas’ gritty overtime win against Kentucky came at a steep cost. The game was a defensive slugfest, ending 16-13 with Mason Shipley nailing a 45-yard field goal in OT. Texas leaned heavily on defense and special teams, but the physical toll on key players was evident. That’s why the news surrounding Michael Taaffe hits hard. Taaffe went down with a thumb injury after he racked up 10 tackles. The thumb injury required surgery, and while it’s not season-ending, the exact timetable for his return remains unclear.

Medical staff and coaching sources purposely withheld a return date to avoid tempting Taaffe to rush back. “He’s out. We don’t know how long,” Steve Sarkisian said. “Obviously, a significant loss. We’ve got Derek Williams, Xavier Filsaime, some nice guys to step in for him.” This remains a huge setback for Texas and Arch Manning, who are trying to grind their way through this season. Taaffe is their leading tackler this season with 51 stops, a sack, and an interception.

It makes him a vital piece in the Texas defense puzzle. Sure, the surgery isn’t season-ending, but it means he’ll be sidelined for multiple weeks. His contribution to Texas so far has been nothing but phenomenal. Since his time in Austin, he’s racked up 176 tackles and five picks. Starting as a walk-on, Taaffe worked his way into a key spot in Steve Sarkisian’s defense. His strong play over the past few years has made him an NFL draft prospect, and his stock just keeps climbing as he’s on track for another big season.

Now there are a few more potential candidates who can fill in the shoes for Taaffe for the time being. Derek Williams Jr., who’s been on the comeback trail after a knee injury last year, is the most likely candidate to step in at free safety. Then there’s Jelani McDonald, the team’s third-leading tackler. He racked up 38 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. McDonald can rush the passer or drop into coverage, and Texas will likely lean on those skills to compensate for Taaffe’s absence.

Other players like Xavier Filsaime and Jordan Johnson-Rubell also stand to get more reps. True freshman Jonah Williams, a two-sport athlete, could see rare defensive snaps too, a sign Texas is digging deep into its rotation.

The Arch Manning struggles found its culprit

Coming back to the face of the program. Arch Manning’s 2025 season at Texas has been a rough ride. But just so you know, Steve Sarkisian is somewhat the culprit for this. Arch Manning has taken 60 hits in just 7 games this season. Now, that’s more than three times the amount former QB Quinn Ewers took across an entire 15-game 2024 season. To put it plainly, Arch has been abused by opposing defenses week in and week out.

Even the weak Kentucky defense was successful in sacking him three times and hitting him eight times. One highlight of the brutal hits was linebacker Alex Afari Jr. powering through untouched to crush Arch so hard his leg snapped back and hit the defender’s helmet. Despite all this, Arch has managed to stay somewhat under the radar injury-wise. But why is this happening? Sarkisian’s offense has struggled all year.

The offensive line is very much lacking in rhythm and was unsuccessful in protecting their QB. Sarkisian defended his quarterback after the Kentucky game, saying, “We need to play better up front to protect him. It’s not fun when you’re at quarterback and you’re getting hit.” Plus, the numbers back this up. Arch has faced pressure on about 40-46% of his dropbacks for three weeks in a row. Ewers, in contrast, barely saw that much pressure during his Texas tenure.