Oregon's Bo Nix offers encouraging outlook on ankle injury; 'We should be good to go'
While meeting met with reporters Tuesday afternoon, Bo Nix very much sounded like he will be available to play Saturday when Oregon faces Oregon State.
The Ducks’ start quarterback is battling through an ankle injury that severely limited his mobility last weekend when the No. 10 Ducks battled their way to a 20-17 win over Utah.
On Monday, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning kept his cards close to the vest when discussing injuries and refused to talk about Nix’s availability in detail.
But Nix sounded optimistic that will be able to play against the Beavers.
“It’s doing well. A lot better this Tuesday than what it was last Tuesday,” Nix said. “So, I’m very thankful. Our training staff is doing a great job. We’re just monitoring it. We should be good to go.”
Against the Utes, Nix went 25-for-37 passing with 287 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His status was questionable in the week leading up to the game, though, after he sustained an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Oregon’s loss to Washington in Week 11.
While playing at Auburn last season, Nix suffered an ankle injury that required season-ending surgery. He talked in detail on Tuesday about the injury he suffered during the Washington game, and the relief he felt when he learned he hadn’t re-broken his ankle.
“Thank goodness this one is, obviously, a lot better than the last one,” Nix said. “Going through some of the aches and pains of it, I’ve kind of been there and kind of know what to expect with the ankle. So, I think that, to be honest, has kind of helped since I’ve already been through it in the past. I knew what to expect with this one.”
Nix is far from the only Oregon player who is dinged up at this point. Starting center Alex Forsyth missed the Utah game to due injury after going through pregame warmups.
Ryan Walk, the Ducks’ starting right guard and backup center, was also a game-time decision.
Walk ultimately started at center and played all 62 of Oregon’s offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
While meeting with reporters Tuesday, Walk was asked what it meant to him to see Nix play through pain last Saturday during his first year with the Oregon program.
“(Nix) totally embodies what you want in a college football player; he embodies what you want in a guy in your program,” Walk said. “Just the toughness Bo had to be able to go out there on Saturday and paly through what he was playing through. Just unreal amounts of toughness.
“He barely took any reps during the week, healing that ankle up. it was awesome to see him out there. I think that kind of gave the team a morale boost. You saw us come out early on fire and I think he played a huge role in that.”
