Who’s going to start at weakside linebacker against Cincinnati? Defensive coordinator Brent Venables isn’t sure.

He said Tuesday Travis Lewis, Mike Balogun and Austin Box would all get a shot to win the starting job this week.

“There’s a window of opportunity for all of them,” Venables said.

Lewis was the starter against Tennessee-Chattanooga. He made six tackles and was solid throughout the game. But he was a surprise starter.

Balogun, a junior college transfer, spent most of preseason practice at the top of the depth chart. But Box was the expected starter until he missed three weeks of practice due to a knee injury.

Box returned to practice Monday.

“He looked really good in practice yesterday. He went through the whole practice yesterday and looked good,” OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. “He’ll be out there. We’ll see through the week how much but he’s going to play.”

Getting one to emerge as the starter is the biggest issue with OU’s defense. Venables said it could be Friday before he decides who he’ll send out there with the first team.

“They all have some physical gifts, but they can’t use them if they’re thinking all the time,” Venables said. “They have to be able to play at a comfortable level.”

More on Lewis

Lewis said he didn’t find out until late last week he would get the start. He didn’t really start getting a lot of work with the first team until Wednesday.

“That was the day I pretty much just worked with the ones,” Lewis said. “I kind of figured then I was a one. It was pretty gradual.”

Broyles will play