As the whole of college football awaits official word from Ohio State on the extent of Braxton Miller‘s injury, more specifics on what would be a season-killing turn of events continue to trickle out.
According to ElevenWarriors.com, the Buckeyes quarterback suffered a dislocation of his right (throwing) shoulder during practice Monday. It was reported overnight that the senior had reinjured his surgically-repaired shoulder.
Perhaps most disturbing and/or disheartening for the player and football program is that it appears there was no contact that preceded the injury.
Braxton was throwing a basic out route in a non-contact drill, grabbed his arm/shoulder area, said he felt something, they took him off
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 19, 2014
An MRI will be performed at some point Tuesday to determine the extent of the damage and just how long Miller will be out. Jeremy Fowler of CBSSports.com tweeted that, per a source, the “team didn’t know if he’d be out a day or a month or what.”
The initial reports had Miller’s entire 2014 season in jeopardy because of the development, although, again, the MRI will determine the timeline for a return. SI.com wrote that "[t]he extent of the injury is unknown, but there is a general feeling of unease around the program.” According to the Columbus Dispatch, “a quick return for Miller is not likely,” with the paper’s sources adding that “Miller could be facing another surgical procedure.”
It appears unlikely, however, that one of the preseason Heisman favorites will be available for the opener against Navy in less than two weeks.
Miller missed two games early last season because of a sprained knee, but the Buckeyes had the veteran and seasoned Kenny Guiton to fill in and continue what was then the nation’s longest winning streak. This time around, the Buckeyes would turn to J.T. Barrett, recently named as the slight leader in the backup quarterback race, or even Cardale Jones; Barrett has never thrown a pass at the collegiate level, while Jones has thrown just two.
Both Barrett and Jones received extensive work during spring practice as Miller rehabbed the partially torn labrum he suffered in the Orange Bowl loss to Clemson and was subsequently repaired in what at the time was described as minor surgery in late February. That extra work for the two reserves continued into summer camp as Miller had been limited due to what was described as soreness in his shoulder.
UPDATED 8:49 a.m. ET: It appears Ohio State is going into a bunker-down mentality as it attempts to work it’s way through Miller’s injury situation. From a press release sent out by the footbaqll program just a short time ago:
UPDATED 1:22 p.m. ET: While the school has yet to confirm it, NFL.com‘s Gil Brandt (HERE) and ESPN.com‘s Brett McMurphy (HERE) are reporting that Miller will miss the entire 2014 season. OSU is expected to make an announcement on Miller’s status at some point this afternoon.