Washington good to go
James Washington was as stunned as anybody when a report erroneously suggested he’d miss the first four games of this season, but the receiver says he’s good to go.
STILLWATER –When he woke up last Friday morning, Oklahoma State receiver James Washington had 60 text messages waiting for him on his phone.
All of them focused on a Twitter report that had surfaced late the night before saying Washington would miss at least the first four games because of a “hernia injury.”
For Washington, who doesn’t have a Twitter account, it was all news to him.
“Missing four games kind of shocked me,” Washington said in addressing the media following Wednesday’s practice, “because they’re like, ‘You’re going to miss four games. What for?’ “Shocked me.”
Of course, Washington practiced that Friday, as he has throughout the preseason.
“It’s kinda weird how things can take off when it’s not really that serious,” Washington said.
Now, Washington said he has had a hernia for some time, “since birth, probably.” And he said he experienced some abdominal pain during last Thursday’s practice, something that arises from time to time, although not significant enough to keep him from playing in a game.
Then came the report, shortly after 10:30 p.m. that Thursday night – which Washington calls his bedtime – with someone from the Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take posting Washington’s “injury” and sparking a flurry of concern and messages onto his phone.
“Some of the numbers, I didn’t even know who they were,” Washington said of the received texts. “I didn’t answer anyone. I don’t know, it just spread like wildfire and blew up.”
And oh, for the record, he’s good to go.
“I’m looking forward to playing the first game,” he said.
Cornelius close to claiming backup job?
Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said Wednesday that the team’s pressing battles for key backup roles continue to gain clarity, including quarterback.
And while Gundy wouldn’t declare the competition between Taylor Cornelius and Keondre Wudtee over, he hinted at Cornelius as the leader.
“We’re close, but I don’t think we’re quite ready to say what we’re going to do,” Gundy said. “We’re adjusting reps. I think both guys are getting better, but Taylor Cornelius has made some strides through his maturity.
“He’s done some things, but I haven’t sat down with the offensive staff, other than knowing that they’ve increased his reps over the past few days.”
Quotable
Washington on his relationship and chemistry with quarterback Mason Rudolph:
“I can remember the day that we came in together and finally met for the first time. I just knew then that we were due for something special around here.”
Rudolph on Manning Award watch list
Rudolph’s national reputation continues to put him on the map for some of college football’s biggest awards.
Already considered a Heisman Trophy candidate, Rudolph is on the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Wuerffel Trophy, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award and the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Wednesday brought another: the Manning Award, with Rudolph among 30 quarterbacks on the watch list for the award presented at the end of each football season to the nation’s best quarterback.
The Manning Trophy will announce the 10 finalists on Nov. 30. The winner will be announced in January.
JOHN HELSLEY AND SCOTT WRIGHT, STAFF WRITERS