Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables has been tight-lipped to this point about quarterback John Mateer's timeline to return from injury, but he might have slipped a hint on Saturday after the No. 5 Sooners' 44-0 win over Kent State.
Mateer injured his throwing hand two weeks ago against Auburn and had surgery, and although it was immediately known Mateer would be out against Kent State, OU fans' main concern was Mateer's availability for the Red River Rivalry against Texas on Saturday.
John Mateer injury update
Sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr. filled in for Mateer against Kent State, and during the postgame press conference, although particularly asked about Hawkins if he had to be QB1 against Texas, Venables slipped his belief in Mateer playing in the Red River Rivalry.
"I'm assuming he can't," Venables said of Mateer playing against Texas.
There was a report last week a few days after Mateer's surgery that there was an "outside chance" Mateer could play against Texas. There was also a viral message board post that claimed Mateer would play and gave Sooner Nation more hope.
Mateer was fully dressed on Saturday, but didn't actually participate in pregame warmups with a brace on his right hand.
In Mateer's absence, Hawkins completed 14 of 24 passes for 162 yards and three TDs. He also ran for 33 yards and a score on nine carries. Hawkins did not turn the ball over.
It was Hawkins' fifth career start after starting four times last season as a freshman in the midst of a quarterback battle with Jackson Arnold. Despite being the backup most of this season and last, it would be the second time Hawkins was QB1 against Texas.
Hawkins became the first OU true freshman to ever start at quarterback against Texas last year. The Sooners lost that game 34-3 as they failed to ever reach the end zone.
"He had some experience playing in there last year," Venables said of Hawkins. "Really, mindset is no different than it was going into today. We need to play well in the areas that we are in control of -- taking care of the ball, making layups when they're there, not try to do too much. Again, sum of all our parts as a football team to compliment one another.
"But I feel great about Mike."
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