Wing Returning for Oklahoma City; Mauney still Week-to-Week

PUEBLO, Colo. – Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney will miss a second consecutive event following a right groin strain he sustained at the season-opening Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden.

Mauney told PBR.com on Wednesday that the injury is improving, but that he is out for this weekend’s Express Employment Professionals Invitational in Oklahoma City. The 31-year-old is hopeful for a return in Sacramento, California, on Jan. 26 for the Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic.

“It’s getting better,” Mauney said via text. “It’s getting better and should be back next week.”

One rider that is returning in Oklahoma City is Stormy Wing.

The 28-year-old missed the Chicago Invitational because of a concussion when he was knocked out by Clemon Time during Round 3 of the Buck Off at the Garden.

Wing has drawn Detective Crockett (0-0, PBR UTB) in Round 1.

The Dahlhart, Texas, cowboy has begun The 25^th PBR: Unleash The Beast 0-for-4.

Fans can watch Round 1 of the Express Employment Professionals Invitational Saturday night exclusively on CBS Sports Network at 10 p.m. ET.

Also not riding in Oklahoma City is Gage Gay (torn right ACL/MCL), Chase Outlaw (reconstructive shoulder surgery), Matt Triplett (reconstructive shoulder surgery), Rubens Barbosa (undisclosed injury), Shane Proctor (personal decision), Marco Eguchi (lower back), Mike Lee (personal decision), J.W. Harris (personal decision), Sage Kimzey (personal decision) and Koal Livingston (reconstructive shoulder surgery).

Eguchi has begun the season 2-for-6, but said his back has been giving him problems this week.

“I feel sore in my lower back,” he said. “It will take rest to get better.”

As a reminder, riders that placed 1-30 in the 2017 world standings are guaranteed eight events before being subject to the cutline, while riders ranked 31-35 are guaranteed five events before being subject to being cut.

There will be a total of 12 alternates, injury exemptions and invited riders competing in Oklahoma City: Troy Wilkinson (alternate), Alex Marcilio(alternate), Jordan Hansen (alternate), Nathan Burtenshaw (alternate), Kurt Shephard (alternate), Brock Radford (alternate), Skeeter Kingsolver(alternate), Cody Rodeo Tyler, Wallace de Oliveira (injury exemption), Garret Lange (Velocity Tour winner), Valdiron de Oliveira (invited by PBR CEO Sean Gleason) and Juan Carlos Contreras (invited by PBR CEO Sean Gleason).

Lange is making his 25th PBR: Unleash the Beast career debut, while Shephard, Kingsolver, Tyler and Contreras are making their season debuts.

Lange earned the invite after scoring 86.5 points aboard Wicked Ways in Round 1 before bucking off in the championship round. The 27-year-old has competed in four Velocity Tour events in 2018, and his winning ride is his only qualified ride so far.

The Kingsburg, California, native is 5-for-24 in 19 events at all level of PBR competition since 2012.

Lange has drawn No Prisoners (0-0, PBR UTB) for Round 1.

Shephard is 9-for-21 at all levels of PBR competition in 2018 and is coming off a third-place performance (2-for-2) at the Portland, Oregon, Velocity Tour event last weekend.

The Australian Shephard faces Striker (1-0, PBR UTB) on Saturday night.

Kingsolver went 2-for-5 in two November Velocity Tour events after failing to win the 2017 Velocity Tour championship after entering the Velocity Finals No. 1 in the standings.

The 28-year-old will take on War Cloud (0-0, PBR UTB) in Round 1.

Tyler is 2-for-9 this on the Velocity Tour. He will face A.J. (3-0, PBR UTB).

Contreras is making his first appearance at the PBR’s highest level of competition since going 0-for-2 at the 2012 PBR World Finals. The 27-year-old is 1-for-4 in three non-25^th PBR UTB events in 2018.

He has drawn Lethal Larry (0-0, PBR UTB) for Saturday.

World leader Cooper Davis will look to extend his 80-point lead atop the world standings when he faces off against Big Black (2-0, PBR UTB) in Round 1.