Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield left a game against Texas on Saturday late in the third quarter after he’d nearly been sacked on a third down. Mayfield walked off the field with the help of trainers, though apparently under his own power. That was on a third down, and Mayfield returned for OU’s next series.
Baker Mayfield came right back in for Oklahoma after taking this hit vs. Texas
Mayfield had exited with trainers helping him.
ESPN
One Texas defender grabbed Mayfield by his left ankle, and another came down on top of his upper body. Mayfield got rid of the ball, and officials decided not to penalize him for intentional grounding. Mayfield stayed down in pain after the play.
The best situation for Oklahoma is that Mayfield plays every snap for the rest of the year. But if not, there’s some talent behind him.
Oklahoma’s backup QB is Kyler Murray, a one-time blue-chip recruit who transferred from Texas A&M before last season. More on Murray:
While Murray’s abilities as an athlete may earn him the majority of his snaps this season, his true value to the Sooners goes far beyond that. Murray’s experience and abilities far exceed that of your average backup quarterback. He gives OU an assurance that not all is lost should Mayfield go down with an injury.
The drop-off between the OU’s starter and backup quarterbacks has been steep in past years, and it has cost them dearly. If Sam Bradford had a backup like Murray in 2007, Bob Stoops might have won a second national championship ring. God forbid something should happen to Mayfield, Murray could prove to be invaluable to keeping the Sooners’ Big 12 title and College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Murray will no doubt get his chance to show the world what he can do over the next few years. For now, he remains the quarterback equivalent of homeowners insurance. You hope you never need it, but if your house burns down you’ll sure be glad you have it.
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