Houston guard Jamal Shead is questionable to return to Friday's Sweet 16 contest against Duke after suffering a right ankle injury, the team announced at halftime.

The team later announced that X-rays were negative and Shead was diagnosed with a "badly sprained ankle."

Shead slipped on a layup and fell at 6:38 of the first half. He appeared to be in pain and had to be helped to the locker room.

Shead had two points on 1-for-5 shooting, with three assists and one rebound, prior to exiting the game.

His absence represents a significant loss for Houston's defense. Shead led the Cougars with 2.2 steals per game this season.

He already had two steals in the first 13 minutes of the contest.

Shead's right ankle was "retaped tight" in order to allow the consensus All-American to attempt to play in the second period, according to the team.

Shead was visibly limping as he led the Cougars out for the second half.

Backup guard Mylik Wilson took his place in the starting lineup to begin the half.

Wilson, who averaged 0.9 steals per game in 35 contests off the bench this season, is set to see more playing time if Shead misses any extended time from the lineup.

Houston is playing in the Sweet 16 three days after Shead was named a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award.

Shead has also been named a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. He is a key reason the Cougars ranked third in college basketball by averaging a 16.4-point margin of victory this season, according to the school.

His early exit is yet more bad injury news for Houston. The team has already lost three players to season-ending injuries this season, including Terrance Arceneaux, Ramon Walker and another key defender in Joseph Tugler.

The Cougars are looking to earn their third trip to the Elite Eight since Shead's freshman season in 2021.

Shead was a crucial part of Houston's return to the Elite Eight in 2022 and their trip to the Sweet 16 last season. The Cougars' climb to the first national championship in program history will feel much steeper without him.