Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel participated in practice on Monday with a sling on his right arm. After suffering a shoulder injury on Saturday against Auburn, the reigning Heisman winner's status for next week against Vanderbilt is uncertain.
Manziel appeared to suffer a right shoulder injury after being tackled during a scramble on a fourth quarter 2nd-and-goal play, NFL.com reports. Manziel tried to walk off the field but collapsed in pain. He later returned to the game.
Aggies wide receiver Travis Labhart told reporters Manziel had been a limited participant at practice and was throwing with his left hand. A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said Manziel's arm was in a sling as a "precautionary measure" and listed the signal caller as "hopeful" to play against Vanderbilt.
Offensive coordinator Clarence McKinney echoed Sumlin's assessment of Manziel's status.
"I'm hopeful," McKinney said, via NFL.com. "We hope he goes. But if he doesn't go, we can't cancel the game. So we've got to get another guy ready. But we're hopeful that he'll play."
Matt Joeckel would likely get the start in Manziel's absence.
Despite Manziel's efforts, A&M lost to Auburn, 45-41. Still, the much-scrutinized quarterback turned in another staggering performance, completing 28-of-38 passes for 454 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions; he added 97 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
McKinney described the decision to have Manziel return to the game:
"I just listen to the doctors, and when they tell us he's ready to go, we throw him out there. Like in the game, Matt had to go in a couple of times, and we got the OK from the doctors, and (Manziel) went back out there to try and win the ball game."
