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Texas Tech football QB Behren Morton details 'frustrating' injury suffered in opener
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- Texas Tech football QB Behren Morton details 'frustrating' injury suffered in opener
Much of the attention paid to the Texas Tech football team this week revolved around the health of quarterback Behren Morton.
No disrespect to Kent State — though the Red Raiders ' 62-14 win was hardly a treat for the overmatched Golden Flashes — but the status of Texas Tech's veteran gunslinger was the talk of the town for about six days. Head coach Joey McGuire said multiple times that if Morton could play in Week 2, he would be out there.
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That proved to be the case. Morton started the game and played the entire first half, leading the Red Raiders to a 48-0 halftime advantage.
Morton praised the team doctors, strength staff, and the Womble Football Center for providing the necessary accommodations to allow the Eastland native to be well enough for the game.
The right leg injury suffered in the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff wound up being more of an issue with Morton's calf than his knee. Initially McGuire likened it to a hyper-extension of the knee, though the rehab involved more muscle work than anything else. That was still present Saturday after the Red Raiders moved to 2-0.
"Still with a lot of soreness," Morton said after the game. "Didn't get to practice Tuesday, really, not much Wednesday, walk through Thursday and then try to rip it Friday, but felt good."
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Not practicing throughout the week is hardly new to Morton, who was inactive during game weeks the last two seasons with the lingering shoulder injury suffered in Week 4 of the 2023 season.
Texas Tech's Behren Morton prepares to throw against Kent State during a non-conference football game, Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
"Nothing I'm not used to," Morton said.
Morton guided the Red Raiders to touchdowns on their first three drives and scores on six of their first seven possessions. He hooked up with Reggie Virgil on two touchdown tosses and lofted another long score to Coy Eakin before checking out at intermission.
He finished the game 18-of-26 passing for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Morton has now thrown seven touchdowns over the first two weeks of the season, playing less than a full cumulative game.
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"It's something that's not really preventable," Morton said. "But at the same time, I'm happy to be back. Felt really good today. (Offensive) line did a great job keeping me clean all day."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Behren Morton 'happy to be back' with Texas Tech football after injury scare
