Beavers return to practice with an eye on the young players; Rodgers brothers can only watch

By Cliff Kirkpatrick

Gazette-Times Reporter

The Oregon State football team began its Sun Bowl preparations on a cold, snowy Monday evening in the Truax Indoor Center with its first postseason practice.

It featured the younger players on the roster who didn't play much, or at all, this season. They are first-year players who used the season to redshirt or were primarily scout team players.

Veterans lifted weights and ran. The Rodgers brothers, however, watched practice while recovering from injuries.

The status of star freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers for the Dec. 31 bowl game in El Paso, Texas, against Pittsburgh remains uncertain. He's recovering from a second-degree AC joint sprain of the left shoulder, suffered Nov. 22 at Arizona.

"We'll play it out down to the wire," coach Mike Riley said. "We have 10 days before we leave."

Sophomore wide receiver James Rodgers won't be available due to a broken collarbone suffered Nov. 29 against Oregon. He had surgery and his arm is in a sling.

In about six week a rod will be removed from his collarbone, which was inserted to help it heal. Then he'll begin rehab.

There were no complications with the surgery, Riley said.

"Everything looked great," Riley said. "They are excited about the surgery and the future with him."

These were first-time injuries for both players. James Rodgers missed only one practice before this one and neither missed a game dating back to when they were children.

Jacquizz Rodgers felt some stress after the injury because he couldn't play. It has grown now that the Beavers are playing in Texas. That is his family's home state and he expects a large group of family and friends at the game.

"It would be great to play in front of them like back in high school," Jacquizz Rodgers said. "If I can play, I'm going to try and play my best."

He said he won't force the issue just to be on the field.

"My shoulder is getting a lot better," he said. "I can raise my shoulder now. I'm doing activities now, but I still have slight pain when I raise it up. I'm feeling confident that it's getting better. If I can play without it hurting when I get tackled, I'll play. So we'll have to let it ride."

James Rodgers was in good spirits, mostly because he's not trying to rush back. His injury occurred when he went up for a ball and came down hard awkwardly.

He didn't think something was wrong at the time, and wanted to go back in the game.

"I'm feeling good," James Rodgers said. "As a matter of fact, I'm feeling really good. I just have to wear this sling until this thing heals. I know I can't play, but still I have teammates who have to play. I'll cheer them on and hopefully, they'll get the win against Pittsburgh."

James Rodgers spent part of the practice helping receivers coach Jay Locey work with the younger players. He has accepted that he's out, but is still uncomfortable not participating.

"It's a whole lot different watching from the sideline," James Rodgers said. "I'm learning from the sideline now. Once I get this (sling) off and everything, I'll start rehab and get ready full throttle for the 2009 season."

The only other injury the Beavers have to worry about is the sprained right knee of defensive tackle Mitchel Hunt. He limped around practice with his leg in a brace.

Hunt was injured against Oregon, but expects to be ready for the Sun Bowl. The sophomore is a key part of the defensive line rotation.

"I've just been taking it easy," Hunt said. "It's feeling a lot better."

As for Monday's practice, Riley uses early bowl practice to concentrate on his players of the future.

Some of them had trouble arriving on time due to the weather. Many of them went home after finals last week.

Riley was impressed with freshman receiver Jordan Bishop, who will be looked at as a replacement for graduating starter Sammie Stroughter and backup Chris Johnson next season.

He also started moving players to different positions, which he does frequently during bowl practice and spring practice. The first one is freshman Kevan Walker, who went from receiver to cornerback.

When the veterans begin practice today, it will be like training camp all over again with the intensity of the workouts. There will be one more practice for the younger players this week before the team focuses on Pittsburgh.

"We don't have a game plan down yet," Riley said. "We'll start practice working against the Beavers, competing the ones vs. the ones. Friday will be our first Pitt stuff, and have a couple weeks to do that."