Brent Venables and the No. 7-ranked Oklahoma football team will have to operate without quarterback John Mateer for the next few weeks.

After suffering a thumb injury in Week 4 against Auburn, the team has confirmed that Mateer will undergo hand surgery , On3 Sports reported. However, while the injury will sideline him for “three or more weeks,” he is expected to return at some point in the 2025 season, per On3 Sports' Brett McMurphy.

The injury was not immediately noticeable, but it clearly impacted Mateer, who kept reaching for his hand throughout the Auburn game. After the 24-17 victory, Venables said the team evaluated its quarterback and decided that he needed surgery , according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

“After consulting with medical experts, it became clear that surgery is

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