Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer was already dealing with some health issues in the first half of his return from a thumb injury on Saturday.
As expected, Mateer was good to go for Saturday’s game against the Texas Longhorns just over two weeks after undergoing hand surgery. However, he did play with his right thumb wrapped up.
That injured hand became a focal point again in the second quarter, when Mateer was seen on the sideline with blood on his right hand. ESPN reported that the Oklahoma quarterback had taken a helmet to the hand, but trainers did not appear concerned about it.
John Mateer’s hand is bleeding on the sideline after taking a hit 😬 pic.twitter.com/JP1N0aTkPA
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) October 11, 2025
A helmet struck Mateer's right hand on the previous series, directly on the surgically repaired thumb (17 days since surgery) https://t.co/QupiMgBGWe
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 11, 2025
Those are the risks of Mateer’s quick comeback from surgery. While there is no indication the Longhorns targeted Mateer intentionally, at least one prominent analyst suggested the Longhorns should have been doing it.
Mateer was nowhere near his best in the first half, going 13/21 for 119 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. It’s anyone’s guess how much his hand had to do with those numbers, but the performance definitely left a lot of room for improvement.
