Oklahoma’s D.J. Ward having spleen removed, will miss at least 6 weeks

Oklahoma defensive end D.J. Ward is having his spleen removed on Tuesday and will miss at least six weeks, according to head coach Bob Stoops. Ward hasn’t practiced with the team during fall camp, and if everything goes well in his recovery, he could be back on the field by late September.

The good news for Ward is that it sounds like he can come back this year. With internal injuries like this, the possibility of it being a season-ending -- or even career-ending -- issue is always out there. He could still wind up redshirting in 2013 if his comeback hits a snag, which, considering the health issues involved, may not be the worst thing in the world.

The bad news: Oklahoma’s defensive line depth is hurting. It may not be able to count on Ward for anything this year, and Michael Onuoha is expected to be out until the Notre Dame game on Sept. 28. The Sooners can’t afford to take another hit along the line.

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