FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Big-play receiver Josh Doctson is hoping to play for No. 11 TCU in the Alamo Bowl, even though his broken left wrist is still in a cast and his arm in a sling.
''Just listening to my doctor and trying to get as healthy as possible in time for Oregon,'' Doctson said Tuesday, about 3 1-2 weeks before the Jan. 2 game in San Antonio. ''I want to be back more than anything, but I've just got to let time heal.''
Despite missing two full games, and parts of two others, Doctson set TCU records this season with 79 catches for 1,387 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 132.7 yards receiving per game are still the most among FBS receivers, and he is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation's top receiver.
The senior NFL prospect, who will get his degree from TCU later this month, has 180 career catches. That is one shy of the school record for Doctson, who played as a freshman at Wyoming before transferring home and initially walking on at the school where his mother works.
Doctson was hurt Nov. 7 at Oklahoma State, when he planted his hand on the turf after a catch, and a defender fell on his left arm. Doctson tried to play the following week against Kansas, but had only one catch for 12 yards. He missed the last two regular season games for the Horned Frogs (10-2) after having surgery.
Doctson is scheduled to have a follow-up exam next week, when he expects ''to have a better idea when I can get started with rehab.'' That is the soonest he might get his cast off.
Before getting hurt, Doctson had at least 129 yards receiving with multiple touchdowns in each of the six previous games. After trying to play against Kansas, he decided to have surgery.
''It was an easy decision, it was broken. You can't play with a broken wrist,'' he said ''I tried, I wanted to be out there with my teammates and play on senior night. ... I wasn't Doctson. I just could do it out there.''
While calling it a ''big motivation'' to get back for one more game with the Horned Frogs and the chance to play again with senior quarterback Trevone Boykin, Doctson said he also had to be smart.
''I can't be out there hurting my team. I want to be out there being able to help them, and that's one of the things that went into my decision to go ahead and get the surgery,'' he said. ''I couldn't help my teammates.''
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