Oklahoma Freedom Lose Lockwood to Likely Torn PCL
By: Justin Felisko
AUSTIN, Texas – Two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood was stunned nearly speechless on Friday afternoon inside the Moody Center.
The 24-year-old has learned throughout his seven-year career, especially in the last two years, that whenever Dr. Tandy Freeman takes a seat, it usually means bad news.
Lockwood had limped his way into the home of the Austin Gamblers around 4 p.m., hoping that Dr. Freeman would tell him the knee injury he sustained in the practice pen at home in Volborg, Montana, on Wednesday afternoon was not that serious.
Instead, Lockwood was given potentially bad news just hours before what was supposed to be his highly anticipated season debut for the Oklahoma Freedom.
Dr. Freeman explained to Lockwood that he likely has a torn PCL, and possibly some other damage to his left knee, and that he will need to undergo an MRI on Saturday morning to learn the full extent of his injuries.
“When I got off, I landed on my knees and got up and ran normal, but I guess I tore my PCL,” Lockwood told PBR.com. “I landed just right, I guess. Literally got off like I have a thousand different times, and I guess landed literally as perfect as you possibly freaking could. I rode a bull and got off like I have a thousand different times. I couldn’t have torn nothing. I don’t know how I freaking could.”
Freeman explained that Lockwood could be out 6-8 months if his injury needs to be fixed surgically. Without surgery, Lockwood could be sidelined for up to 12 weeks and possibly see his PBR Teams season over before it even started.
Lockwood was admittedly defeated and disheartened by the sudden news Friday. He had been out of competition for the last six months because of a left shoulder injury and had been working towards being an impact rider for Oklahoma.
The knee injury is just the latest in the ongoing injury saga for Lockwood, who has missed 19 months of competition in the last three seasons.
“I don’t even know how to put that into words,” Lockwood said. “First to come back from the big injury, and I can’t ride shit, and I’m wondering why I can’t ride, and it turns out my pelvis is split in two, and my core muscles had been ripped off ever since I have come back (in 2020). Then, come back from that in 2021, my groin has all this scar tissue. Just bad, can’t ride. Finish out the season, start this new season. Start slow, getting a new feel for the body. Kind of start catching a rhythm and freaking get hurt there at home.
“It’s just never-ending.”
Freedom coach Cord McCoy admitted the Oklahoma brass was also taken aback by the news. The team watched Lockwood’s ride in the practice pen with excitement on Thursday night at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and thought he had some swelling and knee soreness from landing awkwardly on his get-off.
“We were like slapping fives on his 90-point practice ride,” McCoy said. “We were like, ‘Wow, he’s back.’ ‘Which of your two gold buckles are you going to wear this weekend?’ kind of deal. So today, the 4:15 call was a pretty tough phone call. He did a group call, and I guess Tandy, you’re not going to surprise him. He knows bull riding. He knows injuries. So when he kind of stated what it was, we were like, crap.”
The Freedom did not crumble with the unfortunate Lockwood news, though.
Oklahoma (4-7, Gambler Days 1-0) rallied to defeat the Ariat Texas Rattlers (3-8, Gambler Days 0-1) 253-83.75.
Coincidentally, the rider who replaced Lockwood in the lineup last minute was the man who clinched the Freedom the win – Briggs Madsen.
The 22-year-old locked up the W by riding Mike’s Effect for 83.5 points. Oklahoma received rides earlier in the game from Casey Roberts (85.75 on Siroucho) and Eli Vastbinder (83.75 points on Walking Tall).
Madsen had bucked off six bulls in a row to start his Teams career.
“I just had to be patient with myself,” Madsen said. “When they say that these are the greatest bulls in the world, that’s the truth, and it’s been quite a learning curve for me. But I went home this week and just got my mind off things, roped some calves, got on a bull at a pro rodeo (Friday night) in Utah, and regrouped.
“I just had to tell myself to just quit thinking. I climbed in the chute – I wasn’t worried about what the bull was going to do. I didn’t even know what the bull was. Didn’t watch a video. Just got to focus on my own job.”
McCoy said the Freedom have to remain confident even if they receive bad news about Lockwood this weekend. McCoy has faith in his roster to keep pushing forward, especially now that Vastbinder, Chase Outlaw and Derek Kolbaba returned to the lineup this weekend.
Oklahoma takes on the Carolina Cowboys (6-5, 1-0 Gambler Days) on Saturday night at the Moody Center (7:45 p.m. ET, RidePass on Pluto TV).
“You almost hope it’s a little bit of a dream on Jess and that he gets an MRI tomorrow, and they say no, it’s not as bad as we think it is right off the bat,” McCoy said. “But we still feel like, starting today – we felt like we had more depth. We had six guys coming. Even after Jess is out, if we keep these five healthy, we’ve still got a good shot, which sounds crazy, sitting on the bottom of the stack.
“It’s going to be a fight all year to get back.”
SATURDAY GAME SCHEDULE (7:45 p.m. ET, RidePass on Pluto TV)
Kansas City Outlaw (4-7, Gambler Days 0-1) vs. Missouri Thunder (7-4, Gambler Days 0-1)
Oklahoma Freedom (4-7, Gambler Days 1-0) vs. Carolina Cowboys (6-5, Gambler Days 1-0)
Arizona Ridge Riders (7-4, Gambler Days 1-0) vs. Nashville Stampede (3-8, Gambler Days 0-1)
Austin Gamblers (8-3, Gambler Days 1-0) vs. Ariat Texas Rattlers (3-8, Gambler Days 0-1)
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media
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