SJSU's Tafralis unfazed by broken thumb

Adam Tafralis will try to help revive the ailing San Jose State offense Saturday against New Mexico State despite a broken bone in his left thumb.

The senior quarterback hurt his non-throwing hand late in the first half of the Spartans' 42-7 loss at Boise State last weekend. Tafralis threw a touchdown pass to Kevin Jurovich, SJSU's only score in its past two games, later in that drive. Then he played the entire third quarter (completing 4 of 8 attempts for 30 yards) before being taken out with the Spartans trailing by 28 points.

"It's painful, but mostly it's annoying," said Tafralis, who completed 5 of 11 attempts for 34 yards after suffering the injury. "You don't realize how much you use your left thumb as a right-handed quarterback: catching the ball, turning it and getting it into your (right) hand to throw, and being able to grip it on the option (running plays).

"But I'll make it work."

Tafralis said he smashed his thumb on a Boise State player's helmet. The blow tore off half the thumbnail at the root and the distal phalanx, the bone above the top knuckle in the thumb. It "broke just like a carrot. It snapped right in half," Tafralis said.

After the game, the rest of the nail was removed to make sure the bone hadn't pierced Tafralis' flesh. The nail then was sewn back to protect the under-layer of skin on his thumb.

Tafralis didn't miss any time in practice this week.

"He's a tough dude," Jurovich said.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/collegesports/ci_7414433?nclick_check=1