Freeman has case of turf toe injury
The Bull has a hurt hoof.
Eltoro Freeman walked slowly out of Auburn’s James H. Watson Fieldhouse on Thursday morning while his teammates sprinted to their spots for early practice stretching.
In a broad sense, this was a familiar scene for Freeman, who has been plagued by injuries and other various issues since he arrived at Auburn last spring. For this particular camp, one in which the fiery Freeman has attacked his second chance to start at outside linebacker with renewed passion, this marked the first humbling setback.
Freeman has a case of turf toe on his right foot that will keep him off the field for the next couple days of practice. It’s “nothing catastrophic,” coach Gene Chizik said, but it certainly doesn’t help
Freeman’s chances of fending off Daren Bates and a number of stellar freshmen at his position.
“He’s got to get back quick,” Chizik said.
Freeman hurt his foot on the last play of Wednesday’s scrimmage. He jammed the toe when his foot pushed back to the heel of his cleat, then suddenly jerked to the front while he attempted to make a tackle.
Through the first nine days of practice, Auburn has had just a few minor injuries, none of which Chizik considered serious. Freeman and wide receiver DeAngelo Benton were the only two players completely held out of practice during the Thursday morning media window.
Other players nursed various, minor injuries. Running back Mario Fannin and offensive linemen Byron Isom, Roszell Gayden and Jorrell Bostrom all worked out at “Muscle Beach,” pedaling on stationary bikes as wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor jokingly taunted the group.
“They don’t interview guys in the Tour de France,” Taylor yelled.
Chizik said he and the training staff are acting in a more “pro-active” fashion than last season because the added depth on Auburn’s roster affords them the luxury.
“We’ve been really lucky health-wise going into eight, nine days,” Chizik said.
Practice report
Less than 14 hours after Auburn’s first scrimmage of the fall, Chizik liked what he saw from the Tigers on Thursday morning for the first of two practices.
“I thought they really pushed through, they stayed focused out there,” he said. “I really felt they tried to get better at stuff they weren’t good at last night.“
Auburn is off today and will resume Saturday with its third of four two-a-days. One of the two sessions will be used for a scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Many returns
Sophomore Anthony Morgan said he was one of three Auburn players who fielded punts at Wednesday’s scrimmage.
Junior wide receiver Quindarius Carr and freshman cornerback Jonathon Mincy also got some looks at the undecided position.
“I think I’ve got a pretty good chance,” Morgan said. “You can never tell what’s going to happen in the game. I think I’ll be able to return some this year.”
Morgan returned five punts for 24 yards in 2009, but like many of his teammates, struggled to hold onto the ball. Carr saw brief action as a punt returner, but never did more than call for a fair catch.
Mincy served as his team’s punt returner at Southwest Dekalb (Ga.) High last season.
“I’m just learning from the older guys,” Mincy said. “I don’t really feel I should be a starter right now. I’m just trying to pick up fast and learn from the older guys who are back there right now.”
Scouts welcome
Alabama’s Nick Saban and Florida’s Urban Meyer have made headlines this week by barring NFL scouts from certain practices.
Chizik has not followed their lead.
Scouts have been a common fixture at Auburn practices so far this fall, and there were plenty around for Thursday’s practice. Representatives from the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars were in attendance for Thursday morning’s session.
agribble@oanow.com | 737-2561
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