Oklahoma HC Brent Venables provides injury update on QB John Mateer

The No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners are playing in a mammoth first-round game in the College Football Playoff. 

The No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide will be coming to town, and Kalen DeBoer and his team will have revenge on the mind after Oklahoma beat them earlier this regular season in Tuscaloosa, 23-21.

It's going to be a tough game for the Sooners to win. It's tough to beat any team twice in one college football season, let alone the Crimson Tide.

The Sooners have to feel good about their chances as long as quarterback John Mateer is good to go. Mateer, who was at times thought of as a Heisman Trophy contender this season, injured his thumb midseason in a game against Auburn. 

The thumb required surgery, but he only missed one game. Since then, he's worn tape on his hand as a protective measure.

Notably, though, eagle-eyed media noticed earlier this week that Mateer was no longer taping his hand in practice. That led to a question on Wednesday to head coach Brent Venables.

According to Venables, Mateer still has some pain, but his grip of the football has improved. It's improved so much that apparently, he no longer feels the need to tape the hand, in practice at least.

“He still has some soreness, so he’s not pain-free,” Venables said on Wednesday. "From a stability standpoint, he’s better than he’s been gripping the ball.”