Linebacker Justin Wright Returning From Injury Against Iowa State, Earlier than Expected

Justin Wright is back early.

Before Wright could even get his career as a linebacker at Oklahoma State going, he announced after Week 1 that he would be out until Week 5 against Kansas State with an unspecified injury. Dave Hunziker said on Saturday morning’s pregame broadcast that Wright will return two weeks early and play against Iowa State in OSU’s Big 12 opener at 3 p.m. on FS1.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wright played nine defensive snaps in his OSU debut but did not record any stats. Redshirt sophomore Nickolas Martin is still expected to start at middle linebacker Saturday.

Wright, a redshirt senior, transferred from Tulsa this offseason. He played at TU for four seasons, leading the Golden Hurricane in tackles the past two seasons as a junior and senior. That’s not a typo– Wright has already had one senior season, like many of the other OSU transfers.

After redshirting in 2018 and playing only special teams the next year, Wright made his first start as a redshirt sophomore against then-No. 11 Oklahoma State, recording four tackles. He ended the season second on the team with 62 tackles.

Wright shared the team lead with 82 tackles in 2021 before taking sole control of the stat as a redshirt senior with 101. He also led the Golden Hurricane in tackles-for-loss (10.5) and was tied for most interceptions (2).

Wright’s efforts earned him All-AAC second-team honors last season. He got that same recognition as a redshirt sophomore and was an honorable mention as a redshirt junior.

Wright came to Stillwater with 32 starts on his resume after four seasons on the field at TU.