ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was something of a surprise three weeks ago when Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham was a scratch from the Rutgers game in Week 4. After missing two games, he returned to action in Week 6 at Minnesota and thrived.
Despite having missed the time and having a ‘club’ — a large cast — on his left hand, Graham led the team with six tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss against the Gophers.
On Tuesday, Graham said that the club is, indeed, an impediment, but eager to get onto the field, he was willing to play through the pain.
“Obviously, I felt limited. But you’ve just got to do it,” Graham said. “You got to do it is what it is. Just trying to get more comfortable every day in practice so I can be more comfortable in the games.”
With a wrestling background, Graham knew he could play through the pain. But what happened? What is his injury exactly?
Graham says that he got hurt in Week 3 against Bowling Green, and immediately had to come out of the game.
“Yeah, I knew, like I came off the field. And my hand was throbbing and I knew something was wrong,” Graham said. “Just went to the trainers and then shortly after the game, checked it out, checked up on it, and then took some X-rays and found out (I had a) broken thumb.”
He hopes to back to full strength in a couple of weeks. And, while he’s wearing his club, he has no pain — it’s just to protect him from furthering any damage as he heals.
On Monday, his fellow defensive tackle Cam Goode joked that he also wanted a club because Graham could use it as a weapon. However, Graham says that has not been his intent, and it’s not how he’s played with it on.
“I don’t know, some people always come up to me are like, ‘Do you hit people with it?'” Graham said. “I’m like, ‘I try not to I just try to play as if I would have two hands still.’ Just not thinking about it so I could just play freely.”
Fans will get their next chance to see Graham in action on Saturday when Michigan football hosts Indiana for a noon game on Fox.