Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty hopes to play Saturday after back injury

Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty said if the Bears had a game on Tuesday, he probably wouldn't be able to play but he hopes he can play Saturday against Northwestern State, according to a report from NFL.com.

Petty is day-to-day after suffering a back injury in Saturday's 45-0 win over SMU. The injury -- two cracked transverse processes -- is expected to heal without surgery.

"If we were to play today, I probably couldn't play today," he said. "But I'm really hopeful, really positive about Saturday.

"I'm not promised tomorrow, I'm not promised Saturday's game. If it comes down to it and I can play Saturday, I'm going to play Saturday. I can guarantee you this, if Sunday comes and I could have played Saturday, but didn't because I was playing it safe there's no way I would be ok with that. It is important to look at from a future standpoint by protecting my body, but at the same time I can't hurt it any worse."

Bryce Petty's injury offers glimpse into frailty of Baylor's Playoff hopes

After the game, in which Petty threw for two touchdowns and 161 yards before being pulled at halftime, Petty said he could have played if necessary.

Last season Petty passed for 4,200 yards and 32 touchdowns against just three interceptions. He is considered a candidate for the Heisman Trophy after finishing seventh in the voting last season.

The Bears are ranked ninth in the latest Amway Coaches Poll.

- Chris Johnson