University of Missouri

Good news for Mizzou QB Sam Horn, who left baseball game with apparent arm injury

Missouri football players (from left to right) Johnny Walker Jr., Brady Cook, Sam Horn and Barrett Banister lock arms as Marching Mizzou plays “Old Missouri” on Oct. 22, 2022, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.
Missouri football players (from left to right) Johnny Walker Jr., Brady Cook, Sam Horn and Barrett Banister lock arms as Marching Mizzou plays “Old Missouri” on Oct. 22, 2022, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Columbia Daily Tribune

Missouri football fans don’t have to panic.

Quarterback Sam Horn, who left an MU baseball game where he was pitching while favoring his throwing elbow, is not seriously injured.

According to football coach Eli Drinkwitz, Horn suffered a sprain and upper-arm strain in the Saturday game against Florida International.

“That has been MRI’d and has been examined by not only our orthopedist, but also a second opinion,” Drinkwitz said Monday. “Believe we have that diagnosed well. There was no damage to any ligaments.”

With the Tigers starting spring football practice on Tuesday, Drinkwitz said Horn would not throw on the first day but would likely return to that on Thursday or Saturday.

Horn played sparingly behind Brady Cook last season, preserving his redshirt after coming in as a four-star prospect. He is expected to compete for the starting job this offseason, along with Miami transfer Jake Garcia and Cook, once last year’s starter returns from rehabbing a torn labrum.

Drinkwitz said from what he has seen, Horn has progressed nicely during the offseason. The entire Missouri offense is under new management this season, with Drinkwitz adding Kirby Moore to the staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“(Horn has) really picked up Kirby’s offense really well, and our offense,” Drinkwitz said. “Watching him handle those walkthroughs last week was really impressive.”

Drinkwitz said the injury will likely force Horn to spend more time away from his role as a pitcher on the MU baseball team. He noted the forearm strain impacts pitching more than it does throwing the football.

Missouri’s football coach also spoke of Horn’s challenges as a two-sport athlete.

“I think he’s becoming more and more comfortable with what his day-to-day routine is,” Drinkwitz said. “And I mean, he threw 97 (miles per hour) the other day, so he’s pretty good.”

Drinkwitz also gave updates on Missouri football’s other injuries. At quarterback, he said Cook will not be throwing during spring practice and will likely work back into it starting in April.

Redshirt-freshman linebacker Xavier Simmons will miss spring ball. Junior offensive lineman EJ Ndoma-Ogar will be limited while continuing his rehab from a foot injury, as will wideout Chance Luper, who continues to work through medical issues related to blood clots.

Missouri’s upcoming practice schedule will culminate in the Tigers’ spring football game on March 18 at Faurot Field.

This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Good news for Mizzou QB Sam Horn, who left baseball game with apparent arm injury."

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