Auburn football could be without two of its starters on Saturday as the Tigers host South Alabama in Jordan-Hare Stadium, but head coach Hugh Freeze gave some encouraging news on the status of the duo.
Damari Alston, the starting running back, missed last week's game against Ball State after suffering a shoulder injury in the season-opening win at Baylor. Meanwhile, Champ Anthony sustained a broken thumb in the same game, which required surgery.
The good news is that both will be dressed out when the Tigers take the field for the homecoming game against the Jaguars. However, Freeze isn't sure if or how much he will use Anthony, who is medically cleared to play.
"I don't know that that means that's best (for Anthony to play)," Freeze said. "He practiced this week but is very tentative. You can tell. I think it'll probably help once he gets his stitches and stuff out. I think he'll feel better. He'll be dressed. Not sure exactly how many snaps he'll get."
As for Alston, it might be a case of whether he is needed against South Alabama. The Tigers' running back depth has shortened after the news that Durell Robinson needed surgery following a "freak injury" in the game against Ball State.
"(Alston) has gone through all the non-contact stuff (in practice)," Freeze said. "I would expect how it would go would be Jeremiah and Omar, and kinda see how things are going. But we'll see how he feels in pregame, how the doctors feel about his strength in his shoulder and stuff, and go from there."