The gauntlet of four straight hard-fought SEC games is catching up to an already-banged-up Ole Miss football squad, as evidenced by the lengthy injury report on Monday, which included John Rhys Plumlee.
All of the new injuries were on the offensive side of the ball with several skill players and offensive linemen recovering from minor bumps and bruises after the Rebels’ loss to Texas A&M on Saturday in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
The two true freshmen in the backfield will avoid action in practice this week as Jerrion Ealy is in concussion protocol and John Rhys Plumlee has suffered a knee injury.
The Rebels will use this well-timed bye week to mend some of those injuries ahead of the matchup with Auburn next weekend.
“(There are) several injuries but the open date does come at a good time, so we’ll get these guys rested and ready to go against Auburn,” head coach Matt Luke said.
Ealy left the field during the middle of the Texas A&M loss with an unspecified illness that was revealed to be a head injury, and Plumlee had a minor procedure on his knee. Neither will practice this week, but both are expected to be available against Auburn.
As Plumlee recovers, Corral could make his return to the starting line up depending on Plumlee’s progression in the next two weeks. Corral hasn’t started since the loss to California when he went out with a bruised rib.
“It doesn’t matter when I come in. Regardless of that, I’ll be ready,” Corral said on Tuesday. “I know Rich (Rodriguez) is coaching each and every one of us to be ready when our number is called. I’m a firm believer in any one of those quarterbacks in our room could run that offense.”
The Rebels’ two-quarterback system with Plumlee and Corral is designed to confuse opposing defenses, but has appeared to work against an offense with no true identity as neither quarterback has been able to find a rhythm in the past two weeks.
“I think that is what the open date is for – for us to evaluate and figure out what is the best way for us to win,” Matt Luke said. “Obviously, we spend a lot of time to prepare and put ourselves in the best situation, and when things don’t go the way you want them to, it makes you look at them even more…obviously, with John Rhys (Plumlee) out this week in practice, Matt (Corral) will get all of the QB one reps.”
Scottie Phillips also went down with a knee injury, but the MRI came back negative, meaning he’s likely to play next week.
Elijah Moore suffered a groin injury, and Braylon Sanders is still nursing his hamstring injury from the season opener that has been aggravated throughout the season.
The offensive line had several injuries with Michael Howard, Ben Brown and Eli Johnson all coming out of the game at different points. All three are expected to play, but Matt Luke said the open date will help get the younger linemen reps while the starters rest.
“I think they will have to practice some this week, which will be good for them for the future, but I do anticipate most of the guys with minor injuries being back,” Luke said. “So, I think for practice purposes absolutely they will, and that will be good for them to get some of that experience, but I do anticipate these guys being back for Auburn.”
The open date gives the Rebels a chance to rest and recover from minor injuries while opening the door for extra preparation for a strong Auburn side, that won’t have the same benefit with a trip to Baton Rouge to face No. 2 LSU on the docket this Saturday.
“Being able to focus on some technique things and being able to get ahead on Auburn, and some of their looks will really help us,” Luke said. “We can do some things, not physically, but mentally (to) get those reps in.”
