SPORTS

U of L RB Dyer still questionable for Virginia

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj
Running back Michael Dyer runs a route during practice. August 5, 2014

Michael Dyer walked out of the Louisville football facility on Thursday with a grin. The banter with a nearby teammate had him laughing and shouting back.

A pack of ice on his healing thigh jutted out from his sweatpants as he sauntered toward the parking lot.

The status of the senior running back is still unclear as of Thursday, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. He might play in Louisville's first road game of the season, a 12:30 p.m. tilt at Virginia on Saturday. He might not.

"It's still real questionable if he'll be ready to go," Petrino said. "He's getting closer. It'd be nice if we can get him out there."

Dyer, who suffered a quadriceps contusion from a helmet-to-leg hit during an Aug. 16 team scrimmage, returned to practice on Wednesday. He worked out again Thursday, but his leg, Petrino said, was sore.

Louisville's training staff anticipated the soreness, and probably expected some of the atrophy -- a decrease in muscle mass -- that Dyer's endured through three weeks away from full participation.

"He's pushing it hard, but we have a training staff that's doing a great job to make sure he does everything right," Petrino said. "You love to see the fact that he's trying to do everything possible to get out on the field."

What Petrino also loved seeing was Louisville's running game dominate in a 31-13 win over Miami 10 days ago. Dominique Brown ran for 143 yards and a touchdown in that game. Last Saturday, freshman LJ Scott took 11 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown against Murray State. Brandon Radcliff added 97 yards and two scores.

In other words, Louisville's stable of running backs is more than capable of handling the work load in Dyer's absence. The main problem is, Dyer's skill set makes him the most dynamic and elusive back of the group.

So while there's certainly no reason to rush Dyer back, it's obviously better to get him back sooner than later. Louisville's luck, though, allows the Cards back-to-back should-be-wins on their schedule after the Virginia game. If Dyer doesn't return this weekend, Louisville can keep him wrapped up until an Oct. 3 visit to Syracuse, or ease him back into the mix against FIU and Wake Forest.

Judging from Petrino's comments on Thursday, they'd just like to have him back soon.