Usually, athletes need valuable rest time to recover from surgeries. Yet, channeling his inner Superman capabilities, Oklahoma QB John Mateer returned for the Red River rivalry. But the entire situation didn’t go according to the script. Despite looking every bit the fighter OU needed, he threw three interceptions and looked a little rusty. Mateer expected to dominate and spoke about his fitness after the game.

John Mateer injured his hand in Oklahoma’s win over Auburn and underwent surgery during the bye week. While it caused him to miss the Kent State game, he returned against Texas, throwing for 202 yards. But the Sooners fell in a lopsided 23-6 loss. Now, looking ahead to the South Carolina matchup, Mateer updated his injury status.

According to OU insider George Stoia III, Mateer confirmed what Sooners fans wanted to hear on Monday. “OU quarterback John Mateer said he’s back full-go in practice this week ahead of the South Carolina game,” wrote. Still, there’s a small “if” factor. Mateer says he feels great but is keeping his powder dry. If anything starts to flare up, he’ll tap the brakes. “I’m full go. I’m good. I played in the game, so if anything starts hurting, I’ll chill out, but I’m good to go,” said Mateer regarding his availability.

Now, while OU head coach Brent Venables took heat for starting Mateer against Texas, he made a big confession. Venables mentioned on his coaches’ show that the star QB took reps with the scout team but skipped complete offense-versus-defense work. But Mateer had a distinct perspective.

After the loss against the Longhorns, Mateer admitted, “I felt ready to go, I was throwing normal. I got to where I needed to be, but I just didn’t perform.” And then came that bold take. “I think I just made bad decisions and made bad throws, nothing because of practice or my hand,” added Mateer. Now, it’s true he struggled as he didn’t score a TD. Every loss needs a face; this time, Venables stole the spotlight.

The reason is straightforward. Despite having the option with backup QB Michael Hawkins Jr., Venables went with John Mateer after his surgery. It was a high-stakes move. Keeping Mateer healthy for the season arguably mattered more than that one game. And maybe because of that gamble, the Sooners’ offense struggled, and Saturday came at a cost.

While Hawkins Jr. delivered against Kent State, bringing him in at halftime might have sparked the offense, but Venables stuck with his plan. Despite all this, Mateer’s tunnel vision focuses on the next game – the Gamecocks.

No distractions, just determination – John Mateer locked in for next game

John Mateer opened up about his recovery, which took a hit mentally. But he also gave a glimpse into the mental grind that kept him ready. “A lot of the mental reps,” he said. “Just standing back and seeing. Knowing when you can pull the trigger… taking the reps with your eyes. It’s huge, and it helps. I thought I did a good job of keeping my body ready, keeping my legs ready.” Now, after all the struggles, he is back in the saddle.

Oklahoma can’t afford any slip-ups against South Carolina. With a 3-3 record, the Gamecocks have had a confusing season, but taking on a road SEC team is always a test of their credentials. That’s why Mateer knows the offense must step up and be counted.

“My hand was hurt, but that doesn’t mean my legs were hurt… I felt ready to go. Yeah, the process was tough, but I got to where I needed to be,” he said. And what about his mindset? He seems confident to the core.

“Obviously, never been there before,” mentioned Mateer. “First road SEC game, so I’m excited. If your confidence is fragile in this league, you don’t have a chance. It was tough, tough on me, obviously, again, I’m not happy about it, but you’ve got to step up and find a way, and I will.” Now, Mateer is ready to lead and prove that the offense can bounce back.