COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel says a previously undisclosed thumb injury on his throwing hand was partly to blame for his late-season struggles.

Daniel told the Columbia Daily Tribune he sprained a ligament at the base of his right thumb during the Tigers' final few games. That stretch included an upset loss to Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium in the final regular season game and a drubbing at the hands of Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game one week later.

Missouri trainer Rex Sharp says Daniel wore a cast for a week after the conference championship but did not need surgery.

Daniel spoke to the newspaper from Houston, where he is preparing for April's NFL draft. Neither Daniel nor Tiger coach Gary Pinkel previously disclosed the injury.

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Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com