With redshirt freshman Hardy Nickerson out for the season with a foot injury, and Khairi Fortt still recovering from a biceps injury, fellow redshirt freshman Mike Barton took most of the first-team reps at MLB this week:
Khairi Fortt, who had been sharing the middle linebacker spot with Nickerson, sat out last week's game with a biceps injury.
Michael Barton got most of the first-team reps Monday, and freshman Chad Whitener is also available at the position.
Sonny says Mike Barton will take Hardy Nickerson's spot. Fortt is still a bit of an unknown ("think he'll play Saturday").
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) November 12, 2013
Sonny Dykes says that Nickerson has a lisfranc injury, will have surgery. Out until May, so not avail. for spring ball. #Cal #CalFootball
— Ryan Gorcey (@RGBearTerritory) November 12, 2013
Coach Sonny Dykes confirmed at Tuesday's weekly presser that Hardy will have surgery and be out until May:
Hardy Nickerson will undergo surgery Friday to repair what is called a Lisfranc injury ... [He] will miss spring ball [and be] sidelined until about May.
Press Conference Interviews (11/12/2013): Dykes http://t.co/IGUqq80xCn | Dozier http://t.co/dYG66KIx0T
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) November 12, 2013
Press Conference Interviews (11/12/2013): Goff http://t.co/GIoh0HUjPl | Moore http://t.co/XOs7nDHllJ #GoBears #CalFootball
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) November 12, 2013
In other injury news, Khairi Fortt (arm), Richard Rodgers (thumb), Daniel Lasco (shoulder), and Darren Ervin (shoulder) are listed as probable for the Colorado game:
Darren Ervin (shoulder), Khairi Fortt (arm), Daniel Lasco (shoudler), and Richard Rodgers (thumb) are all listed as probable for Saturday.
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) November 12, 2013
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Nick Forbes - who has been sidelined for almost the entire season with a back injury - was featured in a segment in this week's episode of The Drive, as well as a Q&A with Jeff Faraudo of the CC Times:
"I hate to say this, unfortunately I’m not to the point where I can just show up on Saturday. Mentally I’m there. Physically, my feet are catching up to my center of gravity. I know I physically need to improve.
"In my mind I’m playing, the decision’s made. The thing that I don’t know is when or if or how I’ll stop trying to play. I want to stop when I’ve reached my full potential as a linebacker. I haven’t gotten there yet. There’s so much more improvement I can make on the field."
"Unfortunately for Cal, Forbes has plenty of company on the injured list." #TheDrive @AGuyNamedNam is crying somewhere.
— Ryan Gorcey (@RGBearTerritory) November 13, 2013
Indeed, per Cal's official game notes for Saturday's game:
13 players who have started or were projected starters prior to the season are either out for the season or have missed multiple games due to injury - Chris Adcock, Nathan Broussard, Matt Cochran, Darren Ervin, Nick Forbes, Mustafa Jalil, Daniel Lasco, Alex Logan, Hardy Nickerson, Stefan McClure, Brennan Scarlett, Avery Sebastian, Bill Tyndall.
5 others - Michael Barton, Khairi Fortt, Jalen Jefferson, Khalfani Muhammad and Richard Rodgers - have missed one game each due to injury.
Let's hope that the team can stay healthy on the trip to Boulder this weekend.
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