Arizona Wildcats quarterback Matt Scott suffered a concussion in last weekend’s 66-10 loss to UCLA, and is questionable to play in Saturday’s homecoming game against Colorado.
Athletic director Greg Byrne and coach Rich Rodriguez discussed Scott’s medical situation — and that of injured linebacker Hank Hobson (neck) — during today’s scheduled news conference on campus. Byrne cited “the nature of the injuries, and the attention they’ve drawn — specifically with Matt,” as his reasons for addressing Scott and Hobson’s conditions specifically, even though it goes against the program’s policy on injuries.
Byrne received approval from both Scott and Hobson to discuss their injuries.
Scott was injured as he tried to drive Arizona out of its own end zone with the Wildcats trailing 45-10 in the third quarter Saturday. The quarterback’s head glanced off a Bruins defender’s leg before hitting the ground. He was pulled from the game, and replaced by backup B.J. Denker.
Denker, a junior transfer from Cerritos (Calif.) College, will start Saturday if Scott is not cleared.
Hobson was carted off the field after collapsing while chasing a fourth-quarter play. Hobson was strapped to a stretcher and carted off the field; he spent Saturday night in a Los Angeles-area hospital before returning to Tucson Sunday. Rodriguez described Hobson's injury as "a nerve issue" that he's had before.
Byrne said he saw Hobson in the training room Sunday afternoon, and the linebacker was “walking around and in good spirits.”
As for Scott: “Matt will be observed and evaluated daily,” Byrne said. “The final decision on whether he’ll play will be made by our medical staff.”
Rodriguez and Byrne both reiterated that Scott did not suffer a concussion in Arizona’s Oct. 27 upset win over USC. The Wildcats’ quarterback vomited on the field during the game and was pulled for the team’s final drive. But Scott, Rodriguez and Byrne all said the quarterback was experiencing nausea all afternoon before the hit.
The UA will update the statuses of both Scott and Hobson Thursday, when the team issues its weekly injury report.
Read more in tomorrow’s Arizona Daily Star.
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