OU QB Bradford Injury Update

Heisman QB Sam Bradford, OU ‘10,  will not undergo surgery and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks, head coach Bob Stoops said Monday in an impromptu interview.

“Everyone’s different in how they heal, the soreness, how they handle it and how quickly it dissipates where he can move and be comfortable again throwing the ball,” Stoops said after the Sooners’ practice Monday. “Anywhere from two to four weeks is what we’re anticipating.”

Bradford sprained his AC joint on his right shoulder in the 14-13 loss to Brigham Young on Saturday.  The injury came after Bradford was hit by BYU Linebacker Coleby Clawson and landed on his throwing shoulder awkwardly.

Bradford’s injury is also getting nationwide attention, even from competitors.  Texas Longhorns QB Colt McCoy, who became close friends with Bradford after spending time at the Heisman festivities (McCoy was the runner-up to Bradford in the Heisman race), sent his condolences via text message.

“I told him I’d be praying for him and hope that he gets better soon. … I wish him the speediest recovery possible,” McCoy said. “I hope that he gets back and plays as soon as he can, whether that’s for us or next week. I want him to be able to play because he’s a great football player.”

Bradford was widely considered to have been #1 pick in last April’s NFL Draft, before he decided instead to return for his junior season at OU.   One game into the young season, Bradford’s dream of winning a national championship took a blow and his campaign for a second Heisman Trophy may now be up smokes.  Now, Bradford’s temporary new job will be to serve as a “mentor” for his replacement, redshirt Landry Jones, OU ‘12.

“I don’t know if I can really put that into words, how big of a disappointment it is,” Bradford said. “But that’s in the past now. There’s nothing I can do about that. There’s nothing we as a team can do about that game.”

Bob Stoops said he expected to make an announcement Tuesday on the status of second-team All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham, who missed the BYU game with cartilage damage in his right knee.

[Image via Flickr]

dave@currentlyok.com