Otega Oweh opens up on summer toe injury and return timeline

Otega Oweh was seen in a walking boot to wrap up the summer in Lexington with KSR later confirming it was a minor toe injury suffered in practice. The likely SEC Preseason Player of the Year was then held out of the first run of practices to open the fall.

Now, we know why — straight from the horse’s mouth.

In an appearance on The Field of 68 with Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster, Oweh shared the specifics of his injury, and more importantly, when he’s expecting to be back on the floor for the Wildcats.

“I had turf toe,” Oweh said. “I’ve been out for like four weeks, so now I’m like two weeks in for me to get back onto the court. It was a good rehab process.”

“Just cautious, right?” Goodman responded. “If there were games, you’d be out there?”

“Exactly. 100 percent,” the senior guard said. “They’re still trying to stop me from doing the little stuff I’m doing right now.”

Interestingly enough, Oweh told The Field of 68 that he saw the same foot specialist as Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow did for his turf toe injury, one that will need surgery and keep him out for three months. Dr. Robert Anderson shared a much more optimistic outlook on the Kentucky star’s return — one that won’t impact his play for the Wildcats, fortunately.

That’s good, because the 6-4 standout will be expected to take his game to another level in his final season of college basketball.

“In a really selfish way, it’s such a gift to be able to kind of mentor these guys through this growing process. To have another year to watch him continue to grow? He’s going to face new and different challenges this year. He’s coming in as a marked man with a ton of leadership responsibility on his shoulders,” Pope told KSR this summer. “To get to witness him grow through this next step in his evolution is a gift. That’s the best part.

“He’s going to grow — he’s going to grow exponentially again. He’s going to help us win a ton of games, and he’s going to play great basketball, and he’s going to be put in an even better position to be a pro. Being able to watch that up close and be a part of that is the best part.”

It’ll be even better when he’s back to full strength, dunking on opponents to open the season in the blue and white.