Sophomore safety Reggie Smith did not practice Monday or Tuesday due to an infection in his left leg.

He received a “rug burn” during the Oregon game and it did not affect him during the Middle Tennessee game. He also practiced last week.

But the wound took a turn for the worse Monday and OU’s medical staff was forced to do something about it.

“They cut it open Monday to let all the fluids drain out,” Smith said. “I should be back (to practice) tomorrow.”

Smith has 15 tackles through five games. He was a cornerback for the first three games, but was moved to safety — the position he played last season — after the Oregon game.

He’s also averaged 15.9 yards per punt return with one going for a touchdown.

Jason Carter worked with the first team Monday and Tuesday.

But when asked if the infection would keep him out of Saturday’s game against Texas, Smith was emphatic it would not.

“No way,” he said.

Schedule boost

Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule didn’t look daunting to many prior to the season. But it looks a lot tougher now that it’s complete.

The Sooners’ first four foes — Alabama-Birmingham, Washington, Oregon and Middle Tennessee — are a combined 13-7 at this point.

OU coach Bob Stoops believes that should provide more confidence as his team prepares for Texas and the rest of the Big 12 schedule.

“Studying coming into those games, you could tell that they were good, solid football teams that were going to win their share of games,” he said. “And in those games, there was a great part of those games where we played really well.”

Confronting tackling