John Mateer, one of the brightest stars in college football this season, had a sudden injury halt his rise. The Oklahoma quarterback had become the centerpiece of Brent Venables’ offense, combining efficient passing with smart running to keep the Sooners in playoff contention.
His leadership and production made him one of the early Heisman favorites. But now, his focus has shifted from chasing trophies to getting healthy. Mateer suffered a hand injury during Oklahoma’s win over Auburn in September.
Though he finished the game, postgame evaluations revealed a fracture that required immediate surgery. The operation was performed in Los Angeles, and early reports confirmed it was successful. However, it left Oklahoma without its starting quarterback for the foreseeable future.
The Sooners have not announced an exact recovery timeline, but most medical evaluations suggest a four-to-five-week window. According to team sources, his rehab is progressing well, but he remains week-to-week.
Is John Mateer Playing vs Texas?
The biggest question now centers on whether Mateer will return for the rivalry game against Texas. The game scheduled for October 11 is one of the defining games of Oklahoma’s season. Mateer would be only over two weeks removed from surgery by then, making a return difficult.
Head coach Brent Venables has not ruled him out completely but described the situation as uncertain. As per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Mateer could lace up for the Sooners this weekend.
“Like we’ve reported the last couple weeks, it continues to be possible he ends up playing this week, but no final call has been made as of yet,” Zenitz SAID. “The post-surgery feedback was very good and led to optimism regarding the recovery timetable.”
As of now, Mateer’s most realistic comeback appears to be in late October. That would give him nearly a month of recovery and allow him to rebuild timing with his receivers.
Before his injury, Mateer was one of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy. Since the injury, sportsbooks have pulled his Heisman odds, and his ranking has slid out of the top tier of contenders.
Missing multiple games will make it nearly impossible for him to produce the numbers needed to stay in contention, especially with players like Carson Beck gaining momentum. If Oklahoma stays in playoff contention and he returns strong, his story could still hold Heisman intrigue late in the season. For now, though, his focus is recovery, not recognition.
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