Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer will undergo surgery on his right hand after suffering the injury in Saturday’s win over Auburn, head coach Brent Venables said Tuesday in a shocking twist after the QB had a strong performance.
Venables said he expects the junior will return to the field at some point this season, but when that is remains unclear.
“After consulting with medical experts, it became clear that surgery is the best option for John and his short- and long-term future,” the Oklahoma coach told reporters. “He’s extremely disappointed he will miss some game action but is eager to correct the issue and move forward. As he is with everything, we know he will be aggressive with his rehabilitation and work to return to the field as quickly as possible.”
The injury occurred in the first quarter of the win, though Mateer managed to play through it for the rest of the contest, finishing with 271 yards passing and one touchdown through the air while also rushing for a score in the fourth quarter.
The Washington State transfer is in the middle of his first year with the Oklahoma program, and was an early favorite to win the Heisman this season, though that will undoubtedly take a hit if he misses significant time.
Mateer has already recorded 1,215 passing yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions this season, leading the Sooners to a 4-0 record.
The Sooners will turn to sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr. when they face Kent State on Oct. 4.
“We have all the confidence in the world in Michael and are excited for his opportunity to lead our offense while John recovers,” Venables added. “He had some big moments for us last season as a true freshman and has just gotten better and better. I’m proud of the work Michael’s put in and the progress he’s made, and know he will attack this opportunity to help lead our football team.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
