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Baylor clings to slim hope that QB Stidham can be back for the bowl
No. 17 Baylor has three weeks to prepare for the Russell Athletic Bowl against No. 10 North Carolina. It hopes it's enough time for true freshman Jarrett Stidham's broken ankle to heal.
“Next Monday we’ll know a lot more,” Baylor coach Art Briles told the Waco Tribune-Herald after learning of the Bears' bowl matchup. “He’s going to have a bone scan. If it shows where it’s healed, then I think he can start his rehab. It’s about the time we start our bowl prep. It’s hard to walk around on crutches 3½ weeks and all of a sudden be ready to go. There’s a time period involved where you have to get your body back right to move where you can protect yourself mainly.”
It's been just more than two weeks since Stidham suffered the injury against Oklahoma State on Nov. 21. Third-string quarterback Chris Johnson came on in relief and led Baylor to the win. But it's been tough sledding ever since with consecutive close losses to TCU and Texas. Johnson suffered a concussion and was knocked out early in Saturday's loss to the Longhorns. He is expected to be at full strength for the bowl game on Dec. 29.
Johnson will start if Stidham is unable to play. Stidham replaced junior starter Seth Russell after he suffered a broken bone in his neck on Oct. 24.
