RAMS’ MUELLER HOPES FOR GOOD NEWS.
Marc Mueller felt better Sunday than he did Friday.
That applied to his mental well-being as well as his right shoulder, which the University of Regina Rams quarterback injured late in Friday’s 30-27 Canada West victory over the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons.
“I thought it was serious enough that it might be a long-term thing instead of short term,” Mueller admitted Sunday. “But I got really good news from Daysha (Shuya, the Rams’ physiotherapist) and Dr. (Megan) Dash after the game and hopefully I get even better news (today, when he’s to see Dash again) ...
“I don’t think I’m that worried about (the severity of the injury) anymore. Daysha and the doctor are pretty confident that I can be back — and not only be back but contributing the way I was before.”
Mueller was hurt with just under two minutes to play Friday. With the Rams trailing 27-23, Mueller was sacked on first down by the Bisons’ Lauren Kroeker at the Rams’ eight-yard line.
Mueller was in obvious pain after the hit, but he refused to leave the field. Despite the pain, he went 4-for-6 for 93 yards as Regina drove down the field.
The last completion was a 23-yarder to Connor Haas, who scored the go-ahead touchdown with 20 seconds left in regulation time.
“I had to play, I had to finish the game and we had to win the game,” Mueller said when asked how he pulled off the comeback while hurt. “That’s how I looked at it: It was a little bit of pain to get a pretty big win for this program.
“It’s something I can look back on as a pretty big moment not only in my life but the team’s.”
Mueller could barely lift his right arm after the game and was in a sling through the weekend. Today’s appointment should determine what exactly is wrong with Mueller’s shoulder and the prognosis.
“I can move it,” said Mueller, who missed virtually all of the 2011 season after hurting his right shoulder during the Rams’ first offensive possession of their first regular-season game.
“Last year with the injury, I couldn’t even move it. This year, I can move it but it’s painful. At least the option is there to do it.”
Not that the Rams are eager for Mueller to force the issue.
“We’ll be cautious with it,” said head coach Frank McCrystal. “We’ll keep it in the sling and we’ll look after things.
“We’ll know more Thursday and if we’re not satisfied with the way it is after the bye (next weekend) and going to UBC (on Oct. 13), we’ll go with (backup Zach) Oleynik — and that’s not a bad thing. Oleynik needs to play anyway.”
For his part, Mueller would rather not miss a game if he’s reasonably healthy.
“If it’s in my best interests to rest and not take contact on it and get ready for maybe Calgary (on Oct. 19) or the playoff run, then I’ll do what’s in the best interests of the team,” he said. “But if they give me the go-ahead and it’s my choice, I’ll do everything I can to play.”
Meanwhile, Rams slotback Jason Price — who was removed from the field on a stretcher and taken to hospital Friday — has what McCrystal called a stable fracture of the C5 vertebra.
Price, who has full feeling and motion in his extremities, was released from hospital Friday night. He’s to be in a neck collar for four to six weeks.
While everything turned out relatively well for Price, McCrystal said seeing a player being immobilized and taken away in an ambulance is always a concern.
“You’re anxious, you’re worried and you’re hopeful,” McCrystal said. “But we know it’s a very physical game and those things can happen.
“We’ve had injuries, serious injuries and seasonending injuries before and they’re all part of it, but fortunately we’ve never had a life-altering injury.”