Sam Horn avoids serious injury after leaving baseball game, will practice with Mizzou football this week

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 head 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.”

The Tigers are set to start spring football practice on Tuesday. Drinkwitz said Horn will not be throwing on the first day, but will likely be back to that on Thursday or Saturday.

Horn, who 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 article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football: Sam Horn suffered no ligament damage from injury