Sooners defensive lineman Brynden Walker retiring from OU football team due to back issues

Former Bishop McGuinness star Brynden Walker announced Saturday that he is retiring after two seasons with the OU football team due to back issues.

A former three-star recruit, the defensive lineman played in 17 games with the Sooners, recording eight tackles and half a sack.

"With a heavy heart I've decided that it's best for my long-term health to walk away from the sport I love so much," Walker wrote on Twitter.

Walker, a junior, will remain with the team as a student assistant coach.

More:Why OU football's David Ugwoegbu had to make a 'big change' to compete at linebacker

Bills drill Broncos in preseason game

Josh Allen needed just six plays to lead the Bills 70 yards for an opening-drive touchdown before taking a seat in his preseason debut, and Buffalo routed the Denver Broncos’ backups 42-15 on Saturday.

Allen completed all three attempts for 45 yards, capped by a 28-yard touchdown to Gabe Davis in showing he and new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey are on the same page. Backup Case Keenum continued the scoring by closing out the first half overseeing three touchdown drives.

Acquired in a trade with Cleveland this offseason, Keenum bounced back from a sloppy preseason debut by finishing 16 of 18 for 192 yards and perfectly placed 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end O.J. Howard.

CHIEFS 24, COMMANDERS 14: Patrick Mahomes led two touchdown drives and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Washington Commanders on Saturday. Mahomes first scoring drive was a 12-play, 87-yard drive in 5:28, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jody Fortson. The second was a 12-play, 82-yard drive that took 5:25 and was capped by a 7-yard touchdown to Fortson. Mahomes finished 12 of 19 for 162 yards. Washington starter Carson Wentz played three series and finished 6 of 9 for 64 yards.

LIONS 27, COLTS 26: Godwin Igwebuike's tiebreaking 2-yard run with 4:03 left led the Detroit Lions to victory at Indianapolis. The Colts could have won it with a 2-point conversion but Jack Coan's pass fell incomplete with 38 seconds left.

TEXANS 24, RAMS 20: Davis Mills threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins with one second left in the first half, salvaging something good from an up-and-down performance in the Houston Texans’ preseason victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Roger Carter Jr. scooped and scored for the Rams on a fumbled punt return in the third quarter.

PATRIOTS 20, PANTHERS 10: Mac Jones completed a 45-yard pass to set up a touchdown in his first preseason action, Tristian Vizcaino hit a 51-yard go-ahead field goal and the New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. On a night when the Panthers (1-1) paused their quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, rookie quarterback Matt Corral tore a ligament in his left foot in the game and is expected to miss significant time.

PACKERS 20, SAINTS 10: Jordan Love and rookie fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs connected on a touchdown pass for the second straight week to help Green Bay beat New Orleans on Friday night. Danny Etling scored for the Packers (1-1) on a 51-yard keeper. Ian Book played the whole game for New Orleans (0-2) , going 16 of 28 for 113 yards and running for 49 yards on seven carries.

Extra points

OKC DODGERS: Oklahoma City split a doubleheader on Friday against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. The Dodgers won the first game 4-1, highlighted by a two-run homer by Hunder Feduccia and two-run single by Devin Mann. In the nightcap, the Space Cowboys scored 17 runs in the sixth inning, including the final 12 with two out, to win 21-4.

OU VOLLEYBALL: Oklahoma closed out the preseason with a 4-1 exhibition victory against Central Arkansas Friday night at Southside High School in Fort Smith. Sophomore Megan Wilson led the way for the Sooners with 15 kills on 28 total attacks.

KANSAS STATE: Former Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed during a game in December 2020 and hasn’t played since, is headed to Kansas State to resume his college career. Johnson made the announcement on social media. He chose the Wildcats over fellow finalists Memphis, Nebraska and Western Kentucky. The 23-year-old Norfolk, Virginia, native will have one year of eligibility remaining, although he could petition the NCAA for another.

−Staff and wire reports

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Brynden Walker retires from Sooners due to back injury