James Franklin injury update: Missouri QB will be game-time decision

Gary Pinkel told the media on Wednesday that James Franklin status is a "game-time decision."

Mizzou QB James Franklin Says Shoulder Feels Great Heading Into Fall Camp

Mizzou's daunting SEC schedule looks a little less scary, as starting quarterback James Franklin appears good to go after offseason shoulder surgery.

Franklin passed for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. Even better news for Mizzou fans is that the junior says he put up those numbers with nagging injuries.

Pinkel and Franklin both said if #Mizzou played a game tomorrow, James would start.

— Gabe DeArmond (@GabeDeArmond) August 2, 2012

Franklin says he wasn't 100 percent last year. Says his shoulder hasn't felt this good in a year. #Mizzou

— Terez A. Paylor (@terezpaylor) August 2, 2012

Franklin had surgery on his right shoulder in March after injuring it while trying to recover a fumble in practice. Franklin's availability will be vital for the Tigers as they hope for a smooth transition to the SEC. Along with those passing numbers, Franklin rushed for 981 yards and 15 more touchdowns.

For more on Mizzou football, check out Rock M Nation. Also check out SB Nation's college football hub and Team Speed Kills for your SEC fix.

James Franklin Injury: Gary Pinkel Says QB Is 'Ahead Of Schedule'

There's good news out of Columbia for Missouri football fans, as head coach Gary Pinkel told reporters on Wednesday that injured QB James Franklin's rehab for a torn shoulder was progressing well:

"I got a report on him a few days ago, and James is throwing Nerf footballs," Pinkel said. "He's ahead of schedule We're on top of it, and I think we've got real good insight on right way to rehab this guy, based on ... people we've talked to that have done it before. I feel real good about that, because it's very delicate."

After an excellent sophomore season, where he combined for 3,800 yards and 36 TD's through the air and the ground, the dual-threat QB holds the key to a successful transition to the SEC.

He'll need his shoulder to be 100% though, as defenses will likely target it if they think he's still susceptible to injury there, especially considering how exposed it could be on QB scrambles and runs in Pinkel's spread offense.

For more on Missouri football's spring sessions, check out Rock M Nation.

James Franklin Injury: Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel Says 'He's In Great Hands'

Missouri fans know that next season is a major one in the history of Tigers football. Gary Pinkel will lead his team into the SEC for the first time after a messy divorce from the Big 12, yet he also recruited one of the top players in college football in Dorial Green-Beckham. Coming off of a disappointing year, the Tigers will need a display of might week to week to influence recruits, fans and fellow coaches in their first tour around their new surroundings. All that to say, the injury to James Franklin came the worst time.

Franklin recently injured his throwing shoulder and needed to undergo surgery to fix it, meaning he will miss most of the spring football season. Head coach Gary Pinkel said it was a necessary procedure, however, and believes he will be fine.

"We're disappointed for James naturally," said head coach Gary Pinkel in a release. "But this is absolutely the right thing to do, and we all know he'll be in great hands, as we have the best doctors and trainers in the nation. James has an outstanding work ethic, and he'll be able to get past this setback just fine. We expect him to be 100 percent and ready to go for the season. Until then, our younger guys will benefit from more reps and more work with the number one offense, and we'll look at that as a positive."

For more on Missouri football's spring sessions, check out Rock M Nation.

James Franklin Injury Update: Missouri Quarterback Will Sit Out Balance Of Spring Ball, According To Report

The news isn't good for Missouri quarterback James Franklin, who will need surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the balance of spring camp, according to Eric Blomburg of KOMU8-TV.

The initial diagnosis for Franklin's injury was a sprain, although it would appear that something more severe happened with the pending surgery.

Franklin, a rising junior, is the catalyst of the Missouri offense that will head into new waters as it joins the SEC in 2012. That means a schedule filled with gritty defenses, and having Franklin under center and healthy is imperative for the Tigers.

Corbin Berkstresser is likely to take the majority of the first team snaps during spring practice, which runs through April 14.

Franklin threw for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns a season ago, and added 15 more touchdowns and nearly 1,000 yards on the ground.

For more on Missouri football's spring sessions, check out Rock M Nation.

James Franklin Injury Update: Mizzou Quarterback Expected To Return By End Of Spring Practice

The Missouri Tigers have a major year ahead of them as they enter the SEC and fight for respect among an entirely new set of peers. Not only this, but the Big 12 will be watching them to see how life after leaving is faring. That makes this spring practice session an important one for an offense that will need to click on all cylinders in its new environment. Unfortunately, the man that everything goes through in James Franklin has injured his throwing shoulder.

The official diagnosis is a sprain in his throwing shoulder and Chad Moeller is reporting that he won’t be back for a bit. Vahe Gregorian writes, “The timetable for his return is unknown, MU spokesman Chad Moller said by text message Wednesday. But Franklin, who will be a junior this fall, is expected to return before the end of spring practice, which concludes April 14 at Faurot Field.”

Corbin Berkstresser will take the spring practice snaps, and the good news there is that it gives experience down the depth chart. Still Franklin has the skill set and athleticism to turn a major corner and perhaps even develop into a Heisman candidate. Hopefully this injury will not hinder him too much.

For more on Missouri football’s spring sessions, check out Rock M Nation.

James Franklin Injury Update: Timetable Unknown After QB Sprained His Right Shoulder

It's still unclear how much practice time Missouri's starting QB will miss due to the injury.