TACOMA, Wash. ― J.B. Mauney will not compete in this coming weekend’s Built Ford Tough Series event.
In a telephone conversation on Sunday night with Dr. Tandy Freeman, it was confirmed that Mauney had sprained his right ankle, but it wasn’t until Monday evening that the reigning World Champion decided to take a week off from competition in order to allow the swelling to subside.
Mauney, who twice this year has taken precautionary measures to stay as healthy as he can, noted he intends on returning to competition in Fresno, Calif.
The 27-year-old from Mooresville, N.C., was bucked off his first-round bull this past Saturday in Tacoma, Wash., and he was then stepped on multiple times by the aptly-named Buck Nasty, including his right ankle.
He was originally examined by Freeman that night.
On Sunday afternoon during the final two rounds of the PBR Passport Invitational, Mauney, accompanied by his wife Lexie, had X-rays taken at a local hospital. Mauney intended to return to the Tacoma Dome before the end of the event to have Freeman look them over and confirm whether or not the ankle was fractured.
Unfortunately, doctors wouldn’t let Mauney leave with the X-rays, so Freeman made a trip to the hospital following the conclusion of the event and then consulted with Mauney by phone.
Mauney is currently ranked fourth in the world standings.
Last season, he made what became a historic come-from-behind run to win his first PBR world title by winning five of the last nine BFTS events and the World Finals average to keep Silvano Alves from winning a third consecutive gold buckle.
A mature Mauney – in and out of the arena – has taken time to heal twice this season.
He missed the St. Louis, Mo., event with an injury to his left riding hand and wrist after being injured during a hang-up in Anaheim, Calif. Now he’s chosen to sit out a second BFTS event because of his ankle.
In past years, Mauney has labored through a laundry list of injuries that would have crippled most others.
Follow Keith Ryan Cartwright on Twitter @PBR_KRC.