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Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops isn't sure yet about Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford's status this week, but he is pleased with the progress the star quarterback has made.That could mean Bradford will be available for Saturday's game at No. 17 Miami. But then again, it could mean he still needs more time to heal the AC joint sprain in his right throwing shoulder he suffered during the first half of the Sooners' season-opening 14-13 loss to BYU on Sept 5.
"All his rehab to this point has been positive," Stoops said during Monday's Big 12 football media teleconference. "We just have to feel comfortable that he's healthy, that he feels good enough to make the throws we need to make and he's ready to do it."
As far as what his chances are of playing, Stoops snapped, "I'm not going to talk about his chances."
The time line for recovery was set at four to six weeks. If Bradford did return this week, it would be closer to the low end of the recovery period after he missed two games and the Sooners had a bye this past week. Stoops said he hoped to know later this week if Bradford is capable of returning Saturday.
"I would think we would know later in the week what Sam is able to handle and where we feel we are at with it," Stoops said. "I wouldn't think it would be earlier than that."
It's unusual for college coaches to divulge the availability of injured players prior to the game since there are no rules forcing their hands as there are in the NFL. But Stoops indicated he likely will announce Bradford's status prior to game time.
"I'm not much on being coy or evasive on stuff," Stoops said. "I pretty much usually call it as it is and when we don't know, I say we don't know just yet.
"I'm not smart enough to deal with all of that, so I just kind of call it as it is and that's what I will (do) here. We'll just see how the week goes."
Should Bradford not be ready to go, redshirt freshman Landry Jones would remain the Sooners starting quarterback. Jones has led the eighth-ranked Sooners to two straight wins, including a 45-0 win over Tulsa in which he set a school record with six touchdown passes.
Stoops said he doesn't expect it to be much of a problem not knowing exactly who his quarterback will be until later in the week. The offense doesn't change much with either quarterback in the game.
Bradford began doing some throwing last week in practice, but Jones continued to get most of the work with the offense.
"The game plan is the same for each," he said. "It's not like one is a scrambling wildcat type of guy and you've got a whole different ballgame for him. As far as game plans go, it's not challenging in that we will have the same one for both of them.
"That's how it's been the last couple weeks and it's worked well for Landry. He's a similar thrower and style of guy. So in the end it's just getting each of them the number of snaps to be comfortable and evaluating Sam through the week."
Bradford spent the weekend in Alabama seeing a specialist, Dr. James Andrews, to further evaluate his shoulder and its progress. Stoops said Andrews has been kept in the look on all medical evaluations and rehabilitation procedures the OU medical staff have performed.
"I think our guys have been awesome in their evaluations," he said. "When it all first happened they got multiple opinions and everybody's were all pretty similar and felt our guys were definitely on the right track and doing the right things. I think that was the outcome the other day, as well."
Stoops became a little testy when asked if Bradford had visited with Andrews prior to the weekend and if the OU medical staff had been keeping Andrews informed. The Bradford family, not Oklahoma, sought Andrews for a second opinion.
"I will let Sam answer those questions," Stoops said. "Our doctors, through all the MRIs and stuff, visited with many many people in regard to it and including Dr. Andrews.
"X-rays and MRIs have been sent to multiple, multiple, multiple people."
