Bo Nix’s injured right ankle is “a lot better” as Oregon prepares to face Oregon State compared to last week ahead of the game with Utah.
Nix said he was doing well following the Ducks’ Tuesday morning practice at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex.
“A lot better this Tuesday than what it was last Tuesday so I’m very thankful,” Nix said. “Our training staff is doing a great job and we’re monitoring it and should be good to go.”
Nix went 25 of 37 passes for 287 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Oregon’s 20-17 win over Utah. He was sacked once and had just one designed run, the two-yard dive on third and 1 to seal the win.
Offensive lineman Ryan Walk was also coming off a leg injury against Washington and getting treatment throughout last week in order to play against Utah. Walk started at center in place of Alex Forsyth, who suited up pregame but didn’t play due to a right shoulder injury.
“Bo was in (the training room) just as much as I was and Bo was even a little down last week after the injury, understandably so,” Walk said. “I was in there I helped pick him up a little bit, I’d like to think anyway. It was good to have him out there Saturday and I don’t know if we could have done it without him. … He totally embodies what you want in a college football player. He embodies what you want in a guy in your program.
“The toughness Bo had to be able to go out there on Saturday and play through when he was playing through, unreal amount of toughness. He barely took any reps during the week healing that ankle up. It was awesome to see him out there and I think that gave the whole team a morale boost; you saw us come out early on fire. I think he played a huge in that. It’s great having a guy like Bo on your team.”
Having suffered a broken ankle last season at Auburn and during his high school career, Nix is familiar with the recovery and rehab process and how to manage his way through a way when his mobility is compromised.
“I think that to be honest has kind of helped, already had been through it in the past, kind of what to expect with this one, how to treat it and stuff,” Nix said. “The one (throw on the run to Terrance Ferguson) I instinctively did it and thank goodness it was to the right. Got out there had enough mobility to do that. The worst thing you want to do is get in there and aggravate it and be tough for the rest of the game and have a little setback.
“I can manage stuff like that. I can control pocket movements. I did it before in high school. You got to turn into a legitimate pocket passer and take that scrambling part of your game away. Fortunately, I’m able to do that and I can flip the switch a little bit.”
