Houston QB Greg Ward sore but healthy, coach Tom Herman says

Houston coach Tom Herman said his Cougars came out of their attention-grabbing win against Oklahoma in good health.

There was some concern about quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who was experiencing some shoulder soreness a day after he threw for 321 yards and two scores against the Sooners. “He’s feeling good today,” Herman said Monday on the American Athletic Conference weekly media teleconference. “He had an MRI yesterday and there’s nothing structural, just some soft tissue stuff.”

Herman said the prognosis is also good for running back Duke Catalon, who showed some flashes while gaining 88 yards in Saturday’s win despite playing through an ankle sprain. “He finished up the game and he’s getting treatment. We expect to have him back tomorrow as well,” Herman said.

He wouldn’t say so, of course, but Herman would like to get his key first-team players out of the game as early as possible Saturday in the Cougars’ home opener against Lamar. Houston will have a short week after that to prepare for the Thursday night AAC opener against Cincinnati.

As for all the projections that now have the Cougars contending not just for a major bowl but for a playoff berth, Herman said, “We pay zero mind to all that. … I talk a lot about our culture. We’re just a very unique team with a lot of businesslike guys. With the leaders we have, they just wouldn’t allow any of that stuff to come in to it.”

The Cougars will likely be moving up from their preseason ranking of No. 13 when the first regular-season Amway Coaches Poll is released Tuesday.