John Mateer is doing everything in his power to get back on the field for the Red River Rivalry, and according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, he might actually pull it off. Thamel reported on Tuesday that Oklahoma’s quarterback is pushing to return this week for the Texas game, with sources indicating there’s a belief his return is possible because he’s reacted well to surgery. The surgery was performed on his right hand, which is also his throwing hand. And if Mateer plays against Texas on Saturday (which he plans on doing) for the Red River Rivalry, it’d just have been 17 days from the date of surgery.

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle addressed Mateer’s recovery process during his media availability last week, and his comments suggest the coaching staff is trying to walk a fine line between their quarterback’s competitiveness and medical reality. “You know, like I said kind of last week, John’s a very process-oriented guy and is going to follow the directions given by the doctor, and if there’s any sort of gray area, he may lean towards more the darker shade of the gray whenever it comes to a recovery process,” Arbuckle explained. 

“And that’s just because he’s a competitor, and that’s just kind of how he’s wired. So you know, there’s steps in the recovery process that he’s having to follow right now and doing a really good job with it.” Mateer wants to be out there yesterday, and Arbuckle knows his quarterback well enough to recognize that he’ll push every boundary the doctors give him. Matter has been a preseason Heisman favorite, and he has had an impressive season thus far. He has completed 67.4% of his passes and logged 1215 yards and six touchdowns. He has also rushed for 190 yards and gone for five rushing touchdowns through four games. 

The balancing act between John Mateer’s desire to play in the biggest game of the season and protecting him for the long haul is where things get tricky. When asked how the staff balances John Mateer’s eagerness with keeping him healthy for the rest of the season, Arbuckle said, “I think John knows his body. I think he understands, you know, ultimately what’s best for the team. But you know, he doesn’t want to put himself in a compromising position either. So whenever he’s, you know, trending towards that darker shade of gray, he always has his body and mind also. And so again, he’s a competitive kid, and so you know, of course, he’s going to try to, you know, get as ready as quickly as he can. But ultimately I don’t think anybody wants to put him in a compromising position, you know, just personally.” 

It’s a diplomatic answer that basically says John Mateer wants to play, the coaches want him to play, but nobody’s willing to risk his entire season for one game, even if that game is Texas. Michael Hawkins Jr. started in John Mateer’s absence last week against Kent State and led the Sooners to a 44-0 blowout, completing 14-of-24 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns while adding 33 rushing yards and another score.

Mateer could defy the timeline

Pete Thamel dropped a bombshell earlier this week that had Oklahoma fans happy and Texas’ defensive coordinators in a scramble. Well, not so much since they’ve already been prepping for Mateer. John Mateer will definitely be pushing for his return against Texas, and it’s highly possible that he’ll play. Thamel’s report said that Mateer “reacted well to surgery” and that “him playing against Texas would dovetail with the most optimistic return timelines, as he’d be 17 days out of surgery.”

Ben Arbuckle’s comments from earlier in the week now make a lot more sense in light of Thamel’s report. The Oklahoma offensive coordinator said Mateer would “lean towards more the darker shade of the gray whenever it comes to a recovery process” because “he’s a competitor and that’s just kind of how he’s wired.” Thamel’s report, when taken with Arbuckle’s confirmation, only hints at one possibility. Mateer will take the field against Texas. His extended absence is also really bad for his Heisman stock. He has already dropped to 30:1 odds with at least 14 players ahead of him. He has had an elite season, and neither he nor his fans would want his efforts to go to waste.