OU's Jermaine Gresham Out for Season

Originally Published: Sep 8, 2009 6:8 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Sooners will be without tight end Jermaine Gresham for the remainder of the season.

Gresham underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday afternoon, and doctors discovered torn cartilage that will require additional surgery to repair.

Gresham injured the knee during practice the week before the Sooners’ 14-13 loss to the BYU Cougars. Gresham’s replacement – Trent Ratterree – struggled in the passing game against the Cougars, catching just one pass and dropping another in BYU territory on OU’s final drive.

Gresham entered this season as the Sooners’ leading returning receiver. He caught 66 passes for 950 yards and a team-high 14 touchdowns last year and was named a second-team All-American.

Brody Eldridge moved from tight end to center during the offseason, but he will now see time back at tight end to help ease the loss of Gresham.

The extent of the damage to Gresham’s knee was not apparent immediately after the injury because an MRI did not show if the cartilage had been completely torn.

Gresham, who is a senior, could apply for a medical redshirt that would allow him to play another year of college football. If he does not do that, then fans have seen the last of him in a Sooner uniform.

The additional surgery Gresham will have on his knee generally carries a recovery time of five months. If that timetable holds, Gresham will not be able to play until February, which is when the NFL Scouting Combine occurs.

After hearing the news that Gresham would miss the rest of the season, OU head coach Bob Stoops focused more on the fact that the injury will not be a long-term concern.

“For his sake, the rest of the knee looks good,” Stoops said. “This is something that heals really well, so for his long-range future it’ll be fine.”