Baylor QB Bryce Petty suffers back injury in opener

Despite a lopsided 45-0 victory against Southern Methodist, Baylor Bears quarterback Bryce Petty took a couple big hits to his back in the game.  The initial report after the game was a bruised back and deemed nothing serious.  An MRI Monday has confirmed Petty suffered transverse processes fractures.

As serious as the injury sounds, Petty is listed as day-to-day.  The treatment for the injury is simply ice, rest, and time.  The Bears were off Monday so Tuesday is the first opportunity that Petty will have to see how it feels in practice.

"“I’m bummed out because it’s never fun being hurt.  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.”“Right now, [I] can’t sit down right, can’t walk right.”"

When head coach Art Briles was asked about why Petty was kept out there in spite of the injury in a game that was well in hand, he responded “He needed the reps,” which confirms the team’s feeling that it was not a huge concern.

The injury, for as long as it takes to heal, appears to be a matter of pain tolerance.  Petty seems determined to not let this keep him out for any games.  However, Baylor’s next two opponents are at home against Northwestern State and on the road against Buffalo.  While Petty may really want to play, they may decide to keep him out or really keep his workload light in a couple games they should handle quickly.