The main story line to emerge from No. 10 Baylor’s 45-0 thumping of SMU on Sunday night was not the sharp teeth and elongated claws of the Bears’ defense, but the back of Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Bryce Petty. Petty was lifted at halftime of a 31-0 game after grabbing his left hip and noticeably grimacing multiple times throughout the first half. The senior connected on 13-0f-23 throws for 161 yards and rushed twice for 21 yards and an additional score, but missed a handful of deep throws to open Bears receivers.
One day later, we officially know why.
After undergoing an MRI on Monday morning, Petty was diagnosed with two cracks in the transverse processes of his back, as first reported by Dennis Dodd CBSSports.com.
“I’m bummed out because it’s never fun being hurt,” Petty told CBSSports.com. “Bummed out because I just watched tape and everything is off. You never want to make any excuses. When you’re throwing and I can’t torque [it’s frustrating]. Every time I went to throw it would jolt. It felt like somebody was punching me in my side.”
Bruce Feldman of FOXSports.com also reported that Petty’s injury is one that heals on its own. If so, it just comes down to Petty finding a way to manage the pain.Re Petty status, same injury as TE Najvar in 2013 (missed 1 game), LB Trahan in 2012 (missed 0 games).
— Heath Nielsen (@HeathNielsen) September 1, 2014
Petty is listed as day-to-day and plans to play Saturday versus Northwestern State. Should it so choose, Baylor has both the time and the opportunity to rest its star gunslinger before the meat of the schedule arrives. The Bears visit Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 12 and then take a week off before opening Big 12 play at Iowa State on Sept. 27.