Update Mizzou: Ebner Could Be Back for Texas

COLUMBIA - Will Ebner could be back in the mix at linebacker for Missouri by the Texas game, missing only one week because of a meniscus tear in his right knee.

That is because, oddly enough, the supportive cartilage was so badly shredded that an arthroscopic operation Monday morning could only clear out the knee rather than try to repair the meniscus.

"They took out about 50 percent of it,” Ebner told The Star. “That was all they could do. There wasn’t enough there to stitch.

“I should be back in a week or two.”

Ebner - injured in the fourth quarter of Missouri’s game last Thursday night against Nebraska - feared the worst.

That would have involved extensive suturing that would have needed at least a month to heal and might have ended his season at MU just as a similar injury ended his junior season in high school.

Missouri’s second-leading tackler, Ebner is definitely out for Saturday’s game at Oklahoma State. However, he is expected to be back for MU’s Oct. 24 homecoming game against Texas.

GABBERT FORTUNATE: After viewing video of the play on which Blaine Gabbert suffered a sprained ankle against Nebraska, Pinkel feels fortunate to have Gabbert available to quarterback the Tigers on Saturday night at Oklahoma State.

“Who knows what could have gone?” Pinkel said Monday. “His knee? He got really twisted in there.

“There’s no question, if you looked at it happen, you would say that this guy is going to be out, period.

“We’re kind of fortunate where it is right now.”

Where it is right now is that Gabbert is recovering from an ankle sprain suffered Thursday night. He practiced on Sunday.

"I'm fine," Gabbert said.

Pinkel liked the sound of that.

“He’s a tough guy," Pinkel said. "It is a slight sprain. He practiced yesterday. Got along pretty good.

“Hopefully he’ll get better and get to 100 percent.”

BRYANT TO APPEAR BEFORE NCAA: Suspended Oklahoma State All-American receiver Dez Bryant is to appear before NCAA officials on Tuesday.

“We are supporting Dez Bryant in this case,” said OSU Coach Mike Gundy Monday. “We understand he made a mistake being untruthful to the NCAA.

“We’re in the reinstatement process and that should take place this week.”

But will an appeals process - Bryant was suspended indefinitely last week for lying to the NCAA about a visit at the home of former NFL star Deion Sanders - move quickly enough to allow Bryant to play against Missouri on Saturday night in Stillwater?

Probably not.

“My first concern right now is getting the players ready that will be out there and practicing tonight.” Gundy said on Monday.

“We want Dez Bryant back. If he was here we would have him on the field and we would have him involved in the game plan. Right now he’s not.”

Injured running back Kendal Hunter should be back after missing OSU’s victory over Texas A&M.

“He practiced some last week,” Gundy said. “We just didn’t feel like he was ready to go. He’ll be back out there practicing this week and hopefully he’ll be ready later in the week.”