John Mateer injury: Tim Tebow praises Oklahoma QB for trying to return for Red River Rivalry

John Mateer is on track to play for Oklahoma against Texas in the Red River Rivalry and Tim Tebow called it an inspiration. While the former Heisman Trophy initially called for Oklahoma to protect their star quarterback, who’s coming off of hand surgery no less, Tebow basically chalked up Mateer to being built differently.

Mateer is just 17 days removed from his surgery, which took place on September 24. Initially in the Heisman conversation, losing Mateer was a blow to the Sooners.

But since then, Oklahoma’s won with Michael Hawkins, who could do so again against Texas. But having Mateer back, as long as he’s good to go, could certainly inspire his teammates, per Tebow.

“Inspiration. It’s different (from) just a lot of other people in this day and age,” Tebow said on SportsCenter. “You have someone that is so tough, that is willing. And you talk to all of his teammates and coaches, everybody at OU and they say when he walked on campus, the attitude changed, the mentality changed, and that’s what a leader does. 

“I don’t know if he’s going to play or not, but just his willingness to want to go out there and play with a broken hand. What do you think that does to the offensive line and the defensive line and all those in the trenches? It inspires them. I don’t know if he’s going to play or not, but I know that when he walked on campus, the mentality and the willingness changed for the rest of the team, and that’s why they’re one of the best teams in the country.”

Tebow was then asked, jokingly, if Mateer should learn to throw with his left hand Saturday. Being a lefty himself, Tebow cracked back but mentioned how Mateer could make a massive statement.

“No, I’ve never said that (lefty quarterbacks are better),” Tebow said. “I do believe that lefties think with their right mind, so we have that going for us. But I would tell John Mateer, just do what you have done if you get the opportunity to play and you can do with it. Guess what? It’s not just making a statement and a huge rivalry game. It’s making a statement to your entire team of ‘this is what I’m about, and this is what we can do together.’ And I think that’s the biggest statement, is making a statement that’s so much bigger than just this rivalry game.”

Mateer opened the season with 1,215 passing yards and six touchdowns through the air while also adding 190 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground. Mateer’s 303.8 passing yards per game this season still lead the SEC. Oklahoma takes on Texas at 3:30 p.m. ET.