COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said wide receiver Madden Williams will miss the 2026 season and will have surgery on a lower-body injury.
Williams did not dress for Saturday’s 50-0 win over Missouri State and does not appear on the game’s participation report. Elko said the receivers were inconsistent at times against the Bears, with drops, an offensive pass interference penalty, and a lost fumble to clean up.
“So Tawfiq tweaked something in his lower body during the week in practice so he should be back recently or soon, not recently, soon,” Elko said. “And then unfortunately Madden Williams is going to be out for the year. He did a lower body deal. He’s going to have surgery.”
Mike Elko Says Tawfiq Byard Should Return Soon
Tawfiq Byard arrived in College Station in January as one of 17 transfer additions to the 2026 roster, coming from Colorado. The safety also did not appear in Saturday’s participation report.
Texas A&M started 11 new players on offense and defense against Missouri State, and Elko expected bumps out of a group that size.
“Same kind of thought with Aaron Gregory,” Elko explained. “It was great to see Jayden Warren get out there at the end and run a good route. Kelshaun Johnson stepped in. Mario was cramping, and Terry needed a blow, and Kelshaun jumps in and makes a big catch for us in a critical situation on a fourth down.”
“And so, yeah, it’s good. Our strength is our depth. That is the strength of our team,” Elko continued. “And so we’re going to lean on those guys. We’re going to keep bringing those guys along and develop them. And I think as this thing goes on, you’re going to start seeing those kids force themselves into roles where they can help us.”
Texas A&M’s Receiver Rotation Behind Madden Williams
Ten Aggies caught a pass Saturday. Mario Craver led the group with 5 receptions for 41 yards and a 12-yard touchdown. Isaiah Horton caught 4 passes for 76 yards and a score.
Johnson finished with 3 catches for 25 yards. The fourth-down reception Elko described covered 6 yards on fourth-and-5 from the Missouri State 39 in the third quarter, and Texas A&M scored seven plays later.
Terry Bussey added 3 receptions for 34 yards. Gregory caught the first pass of his career in the third quarter and the first touchdown of his career in the fourth, a 15-yard throw from Brady Hart.
Senior linebacker Daymion Sanford, who had surgery after a lower-body injury in the April 18 Maroon & White Game, also did not play. Elko said Sanford was roughly a week away.
Texas A&M hosts Arizona State on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
