Players talk about their injuries

[PonyPride]

• WR Der'Rikk Thompson left Saturday's game when he took a shot to the midsection from Southern Miss safety Marquese Wheaton, and was replaced in the SMU lineup by Keenan Holman. "(The hit) was his helmet in my stomach," Thompson said. "It really knocked the wind out of me, but I'll definitely be able to play against Tulsa. It was my 'welcome to college football' moment, I guess."

• After a week in which he didn't practice much because of a strained right hamstring, LB Ja'Gared Davis played against Southern Miss, and finished tied for third on the SMU team with seven tackles and intercepting his second pass of the season. Davis sat out of practice Tuesday; while his teammates did some conditioning running at the end of practice, he rode a stationary bike. He said he might be slightly limited in practice this week, but said, "I'll definitely be good by Tulsa."

• One of the most violent hits in the game involved a Southern Miss defensive back and SMU WR Darius Johnson. Each stayed on the ground before being helped off. In Johnson's case, the injury was bruised ribs. He received an injection to relieve the pain and returned to the game, but after one play, he called it a night. "I took a shot to numb it, but it didn't work," Johnson said. "(The Southern Miss DB) actually knocked himself out when he hit me."

Johnson said he feels pain doing little things like laughing, sneezing or even taking a deep breath. He sat out Tuesday's practice but said he would try to return to the practice field Wednesday while getting treatment throughout the week. "I have to get in early and get it treated," he said. "When I get out (to the practice field), I just have to make sure it's warm."

• The scariest injury Saturday was suffered by LB Byron Brown, who was knocked out while covering on the kickoff that started the second half. The injury was diagnosed as a concussion, the second this season for Brown, who also suffered a concussion in SMU's win over UCF. Brown, who flew back Saturday night with his teammates, was at practice Tuesday, but did not dress or participate in any drills.

"I came down and hit the wedge, but it was actually the inside (Southern Miss) guy who dragged me down and I hit my head on the turf," Brown said. "I got up and made it to the sideline. I was dizzy and a little wobbly. I kind if passed out on the sideline, and then woke up. It's kind of scary. I never had something like that before. I started to think about my (football) career.

"They're going to hold me out this week (against Tulsa). I took an impact test (Monday), which is a memory test, looking at shapes and things like that. It's about a 30-minute deal, and I got a headache when I did that."

Brown's family was understandably concerned about his injury. "I talked to my father in the hospital, and he keeps checking in on me," Brown said. "They know how passionate I am about the game, and how long I have left to play this game.

"I did think about if my career is over, and about people like (former SMU cornerback Derrius Bell, whose career was cut short by concussions). It's a little scary. But I'm feeling better. I'm going to tone it down a little. I'll be alright."

[ponyscott]

Good luck to Byron Brown!.....stay strong and don't risk your haid boy....

[HorsePower]

Thanks for the updates that once again, we get nowhere else.

Hope everyone is healthy enough to play this weekend. BEAT TULSA.

[smuuth]

still don't understand why injury details are released unless it is a season-ending injury and approved by player and medical staff. Ask Patterson if he doesn't get info from different media and internet sources.Why tell an opposing team so that team can pinpoint one of our guy's ribs, knees or shoulders to try to knock them out of the game? Don't think it doesn't happen.