TCU won’t play its scheduled spring football game Saturday because it doesn’t have enough healthy players, coach Gary Patterson announced Tuesday (via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

Instead, TCU’s last spring practice will be Friday.

The Horned Frogs, whose roster already was thin, are missing several players this spring because of injuries. By Patterson’s estimate, TCU is practicing with about half of the 85 scholarship players allowed under NCAA rules for FBS programs.

Per the Star-Telegram: Among the more notable players out this spring are wide receiver Jalen Reagor, offensive tackles Austin Myers and Lucas Niang, running backs Sewo Olonilua and Darius Anderson and defensive tackle Ross Blacklock.

Even as drills are ongoing, players are going missing. On Tuesday, center and 2018 team captain Kellton Hollins underwent surgery for an undisclosed injury. Hollins started the first 11 games at center last season and had worked with the first-team at center this spring. He is expected to compete for the starting job in the fall.

Grinding All My Life. ? #EarnTheChip pic.twitter.com/fSUMHI7Sse

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) April 1, 2019

The Horned Frogs were hit hard by injuries last regular season, too. Patterson at one point in November said some three dozen players had missed four or more games in 2018.

That might explain why TCU finished 7-6, part of an up-and-down record since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 — which might be good news for fans.

In 2013, TCU was 4-8 — its worst mark under Patterson, who took over in 2001 — but then went 12-1 in 2014. The Frogs were 6-7 in 2016 but rebounded to go 11-3 in 2017.

Although Saturday’s spring game won’t take place, Patterson has been pleased with how the spring has gone, according to the Star-Telegram, as grad transfer Alex Delton, redshirt freshman Justin Rogers and true freshman Max Duggan have battled for the starting quarterback job.

That competition likely will carry over into the fall, especially because there’s no spring game for one of the QBs to use as a punctuation mark on the early fight.

There are reinforcements coming too since the incoming recruiting class and other graduate transfers will add 20 healthy players and some who are sidelined this spring will be active again.

TCU opens the 2019 season at home Aug. 31 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.