Oklahoma State football: Wes Lunt might have benefitted by wearing a brace

A black brace on his left knee.

The former Oklahoma State quarterback had no previous injury in his football or baseball career. But Weeden wore that brace purely for precautionary reasons, he said last week, in case a defender caught that lead knee that is often exposed while trying to knock him to the turf.

Could that same “just-in-case” philosophy have helped Cowboy starter Wes Lunt avoid the left knee injury he sustained against Louisiana-Lafayette?

It's easy to say now that perhaps it would have. But coach Mike Gundy said he had never really thought about Weeden wearing a brace — or requiring Lunt to do the same — until it was brought up to him last week. And even after Lunt's injury, which does not appear to be serious but is likely to keep him out of Saturday's Big 12 opener against No. 12 Texas, Gundy said wearing a brace or any other additional equipment has to be up to the player.

“They've got to do that on their own,” Gundy said. “I don't know we can ever protect (from injury completely). That would be any skill player. If he wants to wear a brace, that would be his choice.”

When asked if he would have worn a precautionary brace as a quarterback today, Gundy initially said no because he “couldn't stand” the one he had to wear when he hurt his knee during his OSU career. But by the end of his answer, he said he would possibly consider it.