Urban Meyer must be getting awfully tired of answering questions about injuries.
The preseason pains continued to pile up for the Gators on Tuesday when Meyer announced redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Corey Hobbs is sidelined with a neck injury. Meyer did not know the severity of the injury, though Hobbs was in a neck brace.
"We'll know more a bit later," Meyer said.
Quarterback John Brantley, who had impressed Meyer with his recent progression, has a staph infection. Meyer said he does expect Brantley to practice today and be better for Saturday's game against Hawaii. Brantley is currently competing with Cameron Newton for the backup spot behind Tim Tebow.
"He looks like death warmed over," Meyer said of Brantley. "Painful? I don't know if it's painful. It doesn't affect his chances of playing [Saturday]."
Stars Brandon Spikes and Percy Harvin, however, are another story. Their status is very much up in the air. Spikes has a lingering foot injury, and Harvin is still recovering from off-season heel surgery. If Spikes cannot play Saturday against Hawaii, redshirt junior Ryan Stamper will start in his place.
Harvin practiced with the team during seven-on-seven drills Tuesday, but Spikes was unable to practice.
Meyer admitted he thought Harvin would have been back by now.
"They shaved off some of his heel when [the doctors] found out he had abnormal growth on the bone that was causing his issues with tendonitis in his knees," Meyer said. "They went to North Carolina and took a good chunk of bone in surgery. He's looking pretty good right now. If he's ready to play, he'll play."
Freshman defensive tackle Matt Patchan has returned from a torn pectoral muscle. Patchan was practicing with the first team during the spring until the injury.
Bloody Tuesday
On the day that's called Bloody Tuesday, Meyer put his team to the test in a scrimmage.
Meyer said the scrimmage lived up to its aforementioned name.
"We gave them every possible look we could," Meyer said. "We gave them the most difficult looks to block."
Etc.
Center Maurkice Pouncey was able to practice through a sprained ankle…Offensive guard Maurice Hurt "dinged his shoulder," Meyer said…Running back Mon Williams is recovering from a sprained ankle. Meyer called him a "battler."…Meyer said the offensive line, especially tackles Jason Watkins and Phil Trautwein, did very well at practice Wednesday.
