Sources – Oklahoma’s Deion Burks is not expected to play against Texas

Oklahoma's leading wide receiver Deion Burks is not expected to play against No. 1 Texas due to a soft tissue injury, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday.

Burks was listed as questionable in Oklahoma's SEC player availability report ahead of Saturday's Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas (TV: 3:30 p.m., ABC). He suffered the injury during the Sooners' loss to Tennessee on September 21 and was forced to miss the Sooners' win against Auburn the following week.

Burks, a transfer from Purdue, has a team-high 26 catches for 201 yards in four games. He scored all three of his touchdowns in the Sooners' win over Temple in the season opener.

Oklahoma will once again be without five of its top wide receivers when it takes on its rival on Saturday. Injured receivers Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony and Jayden Gibson were already ruled out for the game.

In her absence, JJ Hester has emerged as the top receiver for true freshman starting quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., catching three passes for 86 yards in the road comeback win at Auburn. Jaquaize Pettaway replaced Burks as the slot receiver in that game, and Brenen Thompson and Zion Ragins earned starting appearances.

Hawkins, who played in the Cotton Bowl at Frisco Emerson, will be the Sooners' first true freshman quarterback to face the Longhorns in the 120th edition of the rivalry. His first start was two weeks ago against Auburn.

The Sooners also moved cornerback Jacobe Johnson to receiver for more depth.

Oklahoma running back Taylor Tatum was not included in the availability report and is expected to play against the Longhorns after missing the Auburn game. Defensive backs Kendel Dolby and Gentry Williams have been ruled out for Saturday's game, while backup tight end Kade McIntyre is listed as questionable.

Texas and Oklahoma both have no open dates, marking the first time since their annual games began in 1929 that both were unable to play the previous week.

This is the 44th time both teams have been ranked pregame, second only to the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry (49). It's the fifth time Texas comes into the game ranked No. 1 in the Cotton Bowl; Texas is 3-0-1 in their last four games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.