Will Stein: CJ Baxter Is Back Working and Expected to Be Available for Vanderbilt

Good news for the Kentucky run game. Will Stein said Wednesday that running back CJ Baxter is back working, and the Cats expect to have him for Saturday night's game against Vanderbilt at Kroger Field.

"He's back working, so we'll see how available he is for this game," Stein said. "All indications are that he will be available, but we'll continue to look at it."

Baxter is Kentucky's lead back, and he sat out Saturday's 21-13 win at Oklahoma. He was listed questionable and warmed up with the team, but Stein held him out so he wouldn't re-aggravate the injury. "I just wanted to protect CJ from CJ," Stein said after the game, per 247Sports. Jason Patterson got more work in his place, finishing with 38 yards on 12 carries, per A Sea Of Blue.

Our Take: "Back working" on a Wednesday is about as good as a coach's injury update gets during game week. Stein isn't promising a full workload, and he shouldn't, but the arrow is pointing the right way. Watch the SEC availability reports later this week for the official word. Kickoff against the Commodores is 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on SEC Network.

via 247Sports / KSR

Sources: 247Sports: Stein's postgame update on Baxter, A Sea Of Blue: Will Baxter play vs. Vanderbilt?, 247Sports' Cole Parke on X, KSR's Adam Luckett on X