This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
Sooners' John Mateer gives harsh reality about last season's injury
It was no secret that Oklahoma Sooner s star quarterback John Mateer wasn't right following the game against the Auburn Tigers last season. Mateer got off to a strong start in his first four games in Norman, skyrocketing to the top of most Heisman lists.
The issue is he never was able to recapture that form the rest of the season. Mateer ultimately broke his thumb on his throwing hand, which required surgery. He would miraculously miss just one game before returning for the rest of the season, leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff.
Mateer finished with 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on the year, sporting a brace on his throwing hand for most of the season. However, when asked during the year if the injury was impacting his play, Mateer often downplayed it. But since the season is now in the books, he's now revealing the truth about that injury.
"It affected me a good amount," Mateer said on 'See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack.' "I didn't say it at the time because I didn't want to do that. I didn't think that was right. But looking back, it changed a lot. You can imagine how much that would change what I had to do and adapt. But I'm back. I'm good now. Feeling good."
Mateer wasn't simply trying to play through a minor injury. He was dealing with an issue with his throwing hand, the most important tool a quarterback has, while simultaneously trying to lead Oklahoma through its second season in the SEC.
That makes his early-season performance even more impressive and gives Oklahoma plenty of reason to believe there is another level to his game. The Sooners have spent the offseason improving the offense around him, adding receivers such as Parker Livingstone and Trell Harris while putting a major emphasis on improving the running game. If Mateer is healthy, Oklahoma should have a much better chance of putting together a more consistent offense.
The biggest question now isn't whether Mateer can play through adversity. He already proved that. It's what he can do when he doesn't have to.
If the healthy version of Mateer is the player Oklahoma saw during those first four games, the Sooners could have one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the SEC. And after everything he went through last season, getting a fully healthy Mateer back may be Oklahoma's biggest offseason development of all.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Sooners' John Mateer gives harsh reality about last season's injury
SoonersJohn MateerOklahoma SoonerAuburn TigersMateerNormanHeismanCollege Football PlayoffHoweverSee Ball Get BallDavid PollackBut I
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
