Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight will miss his second consecutive game this upcoming weekend against the Kansas Jayhawks.
Head coach Bob Stoops announced the decision Monday after Knight was diagnosed with transient quadriplegia, an injury that causes pain, numbness, and a loss of feeling on either side of the body. This injury has steadily grown from what was first thought to be a concussion and has progressed to what could be a season ending injury. Coach Stoops will address the injury on a week-to-week basis, but with only one more game remaining and no chance at an appearance in the Big 12 Championship, Stoops may be more cautious with his sophomore quarterback.
Knight first suffered the injury during the team’s 48-14 loss at Baylor on November 8 and has sat out since. Cody Thomas has replaced Knight in the lineup and did a very mediocre job Saturday against a weak Texas Tech defense throwing three interceptions, but it was his 103 rushing yards and touchdown that saved the day. Thomas will have a similar opportunity this weekend against a poor Jayhawks defense that allows 30.4 points per game.
After this weekend, Oklahoma wraps up their season against the Oklahoma State Cowboys before attending whichever bowl game they are selected for. It may be more realistic to think Sooners fans could see Knight back on the field for the late December game instead of risking any further injury against the Cowboys.
Still, with the influx in knowledge surrounding head and neck injuries, the Sooners may decide not to play Knight at all and save any risk for next season. Expect the team to closely monitor his symptoms as more information should arrive as the week unfolds.
Through nine games, Knight had thrown for 2,197 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions guiding the Sooners to a 7-2 record with only two narrow loses to Big 12 competition.
*Section Photo credit to Tom Pennington, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Kevin Jairaj, USA Today Sports
