Marcell Ateman Injury: Updates on Oklahoma State WR's Foot and Return

Oklahoma State wide receiver Marcell Ateman will not be able to start the 2016 college football season on the field with the Cowboys in his senior year.

Continue for updates.

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Ateman Could Miss at Least 1 Month

Wednesday, July 27

On Wednesday, John Helsley of the Oklahoman reported Ateman is not expected to return until October after he "recently" underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot.

Per Helsley, Ateman suffered the injury during non-contact drills this summer. The school waits for a definite return date, wide receivers coach Kasey Dunn disclosed:

"

I don’t know where that’s going to be. I’m hoping as soon as possible. He’s had a great summer. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I think he’ll be back probably sooner than later.

I’m bummed though, because it’s a little bit of a setback for him. His play was going up, up, up.

"

The 6'4", 210-pound receiver is coming off a big junior year with Oklahoma State in 2015. He finished third on the team with 45 receptions for 766 yards and scored a career-high five touchdowns. 

He racked up 100-plus yards in two games, including a 132-yard, one-touchdown effort against Iowa State on Nov. 14, via the Big 12:

Ateman played his best football down the stretch, too, recording 20 of his 45 catches in the team's final four games.

It had him poised for an even larger season in 2016, as he made the Biletnikoff Award's preseason national watch list, per Cowboy Football. 

But with Ateman now shelved, James Washington could face even more pressure; he led Oklahoma State with 1,087 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.

Helsley noted that senior Jhajuan Seales could step in for Ateman as an outside threat despite catching just 18 passes in both his sophomore and junior season after a 39-reception freshman year.

Chris Lacy is also an option, but the 6'3" receiver has just 12 career catches in two seasons.

One of them will have to replace Ateman, as Oklahoma State is slated to face Baylor and Texas in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively, possibly without one of its top receivers. If the offense isn't clicking by then, Ateman could return to a team without any Big 12 title hopes. 

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.