TCU will reach to No. 3 QB if Boykin can't bounce back

If Trevone Boykin's injured ankle makes it impossible for him to play in Saturday's critically important game at Oklahoma, TCU coach Gary Patterson said he will reach for third-stringer Foster Sawyer to start.

Patterson told reporters Tuesday during his weekly press conference that the redshirt freshman currently has the edge over senior Bram Kohlhausen. Boykin was lost in the first quarter of last week's game against Kansas to an ankle injury.

"Obviously we’ll see in practice,” Patterson said. “Foster, going into the Tuesday practice, has the edge from what I saw in the ballgame.”

Sawyer, a hometown kid from Fort Worth, completed just one pass, a 42-yard touchdown in the 23-17 victory. He was 1-for-7, but also engineered two other drives that ended with field goals. Kohlhausen went 13-for-19 for 112 yards, but didnt manage a touchdown and also threw an interception.

Patterson said Boykin's status likely won't be known until Friday or even game day. Although TCU's playoff chances are significantly dinged after losing at Oklahoma State and then struggling against Kansas, the Horned Frogs remain in the thick of the Big 12 title chase. TCU shared the 2014 title with Baylor, and will need to win its final two games at OU and at home against the Bears to have a chance to repeat.

As for the performances of Sawyer and Kohlhausen, Patterson graded the backups as "OK."

"Obviously, we only scored one offensive touchdown," Patterson said. "That’s not what we’re accustomed to, so we’ll have to play a lot better. And to be honest with you, we’ll have to play a lot better in the red zone. This offense, we have to play a lot better in the red zone. Still move the football, can’t turn the ball over, but you’ve got to play better in the red zone."

(h/t Star-Telegram)