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How Texas Tech's Behren Morton has adjusted to his nagging leg injury
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- How Texas Tech's Behren Morton has adjusted to his nagging leg injury
Just when Behren Morton got his multi-year shoulder issue fixed last offseason, the Texas Tech football team's starting quarterback came down with a leg injury in the season opener, one that has been an issue for the last three months.
Thanks to the near month-long break between the Big 12 Conference championship game and the College Football Playoff, Morton has had plenty of time to get right. While he may not ever be 100% this season, he's as close as can be ahead of the Orange Bowl matchup with Oregon .
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"It's better for sure," Morton said Sunday. "It's been a focus. ... We've had time off to get to work things like that so I think it's been good."
Morton's season has been a mixed bag. The fifth-year season has been great when he's on the field, but that has been inconsistent.
Some of that is due to injuries, mostly the leg that was reaggravated in October and a concussion that knocked him out of the road win at Utah. Another factor is the Red Raiders blowing out most opponents, making it unnecessary for Morton to stay in for the entire game.
"As far as the week goes, it's not like I'm not doing anything," Morton said, who has spent plenty of time in a walking boot to prevent further damage off the field. "I'm getting to practice a lot. I think Coach (Joey) McGuire does a good job of conditioning wise with the time that we have now. My body's in great shape and I feel good."
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Despite the will-he, won't-he of the season, Morton has been productive, totaling 2,643 yards and 22 touchdowns compared to four interceptions on a 67% completion percentage. That comes with the adjustments he's had to make with the leg injury.
Texas Tech's Behren Morton eyes the BYU defense during the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich said Morton wouldn't practice on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but would go through the team's walkthrough periods while in the boot.
"We go 40 plays and he wouldn't have a ball on the ground in the boot," Leftwich said, "and I was joking with him, I told him that made him more accurate because he had to play with the base and balance.
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"When you have injuries, you got to kind of learn to play with it and know where your limitations are and what you're able to do."
While head coach Joey McGuire said that Morton feels as good as he has since preseason camp, Leftwich said don't expect Morton to be introduced into the running game more against the Ducks . That's not his strong suit anyway. Everything else?
"I think now that he's back feeling good again, feeling really healthy," Leftwich said, "I think he's as confident as he ever has been."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Behren Morton confident as ever for Texas Tech football's CFP run
