Report: Oklahoma QB Trevor Knight still hasn't practiced
Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight will miss his second straight game on Saturday when the Sooners host Kansas. OU coach Bob Stoops has not said much about the sophomore’s injury, but a report from Ryan Aber of The Oklahoman provides a bit more insight into Knight’s status.
According to Aber, the injury Knight suffered against Baylor on Nov. 8 was “later diagnosed as transient quadriplegia.” The severity of the condition varies, so Knight’s status for the rest of the season and beyond is up in the air.
Per The Oklahoman:
The seriousness of the condition can range from mild weakness that goes away in minutes to complete paralysis that lasts for hours. Saturday, Knight will miss his second consecutive game since the injury occurred and there is no clear indicator when — or if — he will return to the field either this season or beyond.
Earlier in the week, Stoops said that Knight was “getting better,” but he has not even attempted to get on the field to throw or run. Stoops also said that Knight “just hasn’t progressed as far as the doctors wanted to see him.”
Knight was said to have walked out of the stadium after the Baylor game under his own power and Aber is reporting that “no structural damage had been detected” when tests were performed on Knight after the game.
One instance of transient quadriplegia does not end an athlete’s career, but a second could.
From The Oklahoman:
According to the University of Southern California Center for Spinal Surgery, one episode of transient quadriplegia is not enough to rule out a return to athletics as long as the player is free of pain, has normal range of motion in the spine and has normal strength and sensation. While Knight might return from this injury, another similar episode could be the end of his football career. The USC guidelines for spinal injuries suffered by athletes say a player shouldn’t be allowed to return to competition after two episodes of transient quadriplegia regardless of whether there is no pain present or neurological tests are normal.
After Saturday’s game against Kansas, the Sooners will close out their regular season at home against in-state rival Oklahoma State.
It remains to be seen if Knight, who has thrown for 2,197 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine starts this season, will be able to return for the rivalry game on Dec. 6.
For more Oklahoma news, visit SoonerScoop.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
