We’re not even a full week into practice for some SEC teams, and already the injuries are beginning to mount.
Some are more serious than others, and injuries are obviously a part of football when you start contact. But the freakish things during non-contact drills drive coaches crazy.
Tennessee lost a pair of starting defensive linemen in a span of two days to torn Achilles tendons. Florida offensive tackle Matt Patchan, who’s been beset with injuries throughout his career, suffered a hairline fracture in his wrist and will be out for 10 days.
In some cases, teams are being careful with players coming off serious injuries and have kept them out of live scrimmage situations and/or team work to this point. Auburn safety Zac Etheridge (neck), Georgia offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant (knee) and Vanderbilt defensive tackle Adam Smotherman (knee) are examples.
Here’s a sampling of some of the guys who have already missed practice time:
Alabama: Safety Kendall Kelly (dizziness/heat).
Auburn: Linebacker Eltoro Freeman (foot), receiver Trovon Reed (undisclosed).
Florida: Offensive tackle Matt Patchan (wrist), receiver Chris Dunkley (hamstring), receiver Chris Rainey (racing heartbeat).
Georgia: Linebacker Akeem Dent (toe), Linebacker Richard Samuel (leg), receiver Kris Durham (undisclosed).
LSU: Offensive guard Josh Dworaczyk (illness).
Ole Miss: Linebacker Mike Marry (hamstring).
South Carolina: Running back Kenny Miles (hamstring), receiver Dion LeCorn (shoulder), Shaq Wilson (hamstring), fullback/tight end Patrick DiMarco (cracked forearm).
Tennessee: Defensive end Ben Martin (Achilles), defensive tackle Marlon Walls (Achilles), linebacker Greg King (knee), safety Janzen Jackson (hamstring).
Vanderbilt: Running back Wesley Tate (foot), defensive back Javon Marshall (undisclosed), offensive tackle Justin Cabbagestalk (knee).