Carolina Panthers left tackle Michael Oher has been sidelined by a concussion since Week 3. But a teammate who has talked to Oher feels he’ll be back next year.
Fellow lineman Trai Turner feels that Oher, who was immortalized in print and film in The Blind Side, will be back in 2017.
“I think he’ll play again. He never said or gave me an indication that he wouldn’t,” Turner said, per Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer, before adding that he’s concerned with other parts of Oher’s life. “That’s a long time from now. I’m not even thinking about football for Mike right now. I just want him to get healthy so he can be feeling like himself.”
Oher will turn 31 in the offseason. So, age is not his problem.
The fact that he’s missed nearly a full season with a concussion is troubling, though.
Football is a violent game and anyone who plays it risks getting hurt. Oher is consistently asked to go toe-to-toe with the biggest, strongest people that the game has to offer. He’s going to take further shots.