Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford is not expected to need surgery on his sprained right shoulder, and the quarterback could play again for Oklahoma in two to four weeks.
“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.”
Stoops said the initial evaluations by doctors showed that Bradford did not suffer any damage to his collarbone, rotator cuff or other parts of his shoulder when he sprained his AC joint just before halftime in Oklahoma’s 14-13 loss to No. 20 BYU on Saturday. Those evaluations also did not suggest surgery, although another doctor’s opinion is due in on Tuesday.
“In my mind, that’s completely out. That’s probably a little biased because obviously I want to be out there playing,” Bradford said. “After that opinion does come in, I probably will have to sit down with the coaches and my family one more time just to make sure that getting back out there is the right decision for me.”
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.
Bradford said he spoke Sunday with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who had a bruised AC joint during his team’s run to the Super Bowl two years ago. Bradford has been told he has a Grade 3 sprain. He already started rehabbing Sunday, trying to improve the range of motion in his shoulder.
“It does feel a lot better today, not nearly as painful as it was Saturday,” Bradford said. “Hopefully I can keep progressing like this.”
MICHIGAN: Coach Rich Rodriguez said Tate Forcier will start against No. 23 Notre Dame.
Rodriguez had his weekly news conference Monday and insisted junior quarterback Nick Sheridan will rotate with the team’s talented freshmen, Forcier and Denard Robinson, on Saturday at home against the Fighting Irish.
Forcier threw three touchdown passes against Western Michigan and became the third freshman quarterback to start an opener at Michigan.
OREGON: Running back LeGarrette Blount did not practice with the team Monday even though he was allowed to under a season-long suspension for a postgame punch in the Ducks’ opener.
Coach Chip Kelly said he did not expect Blount at practice.
“People I think should respect he’s been through a lot the past few days,” Kelly said during a conference call. “He’s got to make some decisions on where he is and everything. But we have a plan in place for him and when he decides to come back.”
Blount punched Boise State’s Byron Hout in the jaw after the No. 16 Ducks’ 19-8 loss to the No. 14 Broncos on Thursday night. Hout was knocked to his knees.
On Friday, Kelly suspended Blount for the rest of the season, in effect ending his career with the Ducks. But Blount was kept on scholarship and allowed to practice.
Previous reports said Blount was expected to be at Monday’s practice. He was instructed not to speak to the media.
BOISE STATE: Coach Chris Petersen defended his decision not to suspend Hout for his taunting that led to Blount’s punch during the postgame handshakes Thursday.
On the Western Athletic Conference teleconference, Petersen said the defensive end is being disciplined for yelling in Blount’s face and tapping him on the shoulder pad. But Petersen added he believes “we’ve done the right thing” in not suspending him for any games.
WISCONSIN: The basketball team has suspended two freshmen after they were arrested on charges of burglary and underage drinking.
Athletic director Barry Alvarez said Diamond Taylor and Jeremy Glover have been suspended from games and practice until more information about their cases is available. Glover is from Haymarket, Va.
Campus police said they responded to a call of an attempted burglary in Sellery Hall on Sunday afternoon. They said officers saw Taylor and Glover leaving the building and confiscated iPods, a cell phone and more than $400 in cash.
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