Sam Bradford's Return Still Up in Air

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford seems like he wants to return to the field with the Sooners after being sidelined since the season opener with a Grade 3 sprain of the A-C joint in his throwing shoulder.

The burning question is when?

Bradford began throwing with the team for the first time last week, leading to speculation he might return in time for last Saturday's non-conference showdown at Miami. Soreness in his shoulder as the week progressed caused the coaching staff and Bradford to nix that plan even after doctors cleared him to play.

Now there is speculation the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback will give it a shot during Saturday's Big 12 opener against Baylor if all goes well in practice this week. That would seem most ideal with the rivalry game with Texas coming up on Oct. 17 in Dallas.

Bradford, who talked with reporters in Norman, Okla., on Tuesday for the first time in a few weeks, said he feels much better but was still not sure when or if his return would be officially announced.

"I don't know as far as a day," Bradford said. "I think that's up to our coaches. I'm assuming it's probably going to be Thursday or Friday."

Coach Bob Stoops also said he isn't sure when announcement will come, though the speculation is it will be Thursday. Stoops says he wants to see how Bradford handles practice this week and how his shoulder responds before announcing Bradford will either assume his starting job or split time this week with redshirt freshman Landry Jones.

"It's making all the throws, making them comfortably, being able to execute the offense and make the throws he needs to be to throw," Stoops said. "He needs to be able to do them in a precise way and a way that he feels comfortable that he is not aggravating it."

When pressed on if there was a chance Bradford could play this week, Stoops responded, "Yeah there is a chance. There was a chance he could have played last week. That doesn't mean a lot. There are a lot of percentages you could put on it.

"Everyone wants me to give an answer that you can't give. Don't know."

One of the reasons there is so much attention being placed on his return is because of growing speculation Bradford's college playing career could be over. Thought to be an early first-round NFL draft pick when he decided last winter to return to school, Bradford's stock could drop considerably if he is injured again or if his shoulder hasn't healed properly. Bradford and his family have also consulted with a private doctor in Alabama.

Making things more complicated is that the Sooners are not as strong as they were a season ago with a rebuilding offensive line and no reliable receivers, with Ryan Broyles sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks with a broken shoulder and with All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham done for the season with a serious knee injury.

Oklahoma (2-2), which began the season ranked third in the nation, has dropped to 19th in the country and presumably out of the BCS national championship picture after suffering non-conference losses to BYU and Miami.

Stoops said Monday he expects Bradford to play for the Sooners at some point this season. But Bradford didn't commit fully either way Tuesday, while admitting surgery could still be an option.

"I don't know if I can give you a definite answer, but I do feel like yes, I will be back at some point this year to play," he said when asked a direct question about whether he would play this season or not.

All Bradford wants to do now is continue working and see where things are by the end of the week.

"It's always good to get back into the flow of things, get back out there with my teammates," he said. "I think these next two days are important just for the fact that this is when we get the most work against our defense during those periods. It's as close to a game-like situation as we get. Obviously me not playing in a game in a couple weeks, it's going to be important for me to get those reps."