Cassanova-McKinzy-Robenson-Therezie-Bennett.jpg

Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy and Auburn defensive back Robenson Therezie (27) stop Ole Miss running back I'Tavius Mathers (5) during the first quarter Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

-- The neck injury Auburn weak-side linebacker

Cassanova McKinzy

suffered on Saturday night against Ole Miss likely won't cost McKinzy significant time.

McKinzy suffered a stinger or neck sprain, according to defensive coordinator

Ellis Johnson

, and returned to the practice field on Sunday, although Auburn was in a no-contact practice with players wearing t-shirts and shorts.

"We didn't do contact today," Johnson said. "(McKinzy's) neck is real sore, but he did everything everybody else did."

McKinzy was injured on the final play of the first quarter, suffering a neck injury that left him on the field for several minutes.

When Auburn's trainers reached him, they took the utmost precaution, stabilizing his neck, taking him off the field on a cart and transported him to East Alabama Medical Center for evaluation.

After doctors realized McKinzy's injury wasn't serious, the linebacker was able to return to the sidelines in a neck brace.

McKinzy has suffered a similar injury in the past.

"It was a stinger, but to him it was more severe. He said he's had them before, and it just felt different," Johnson said. "It's a pretty serious neck sprain or stinger, but nothing you would say is critical or anything that he can't play.

The timetable for McKinzy's return is unclear.

Auburn has no practice scheduled on Monday. Doctors will evaluate McKinzy again on Tuesday and decide whether or not the linebacker, who ranks third on the team with 23 tackles from the weak-side linebacker position.

"It's just a matter of time when everything sort of relaxes and the tension and the swelling and all the things that comes with those things, how soon does it leave," Johnson said.

Johnson wouldn't rule out bringing McKinzy back against Western Carolina if Auburn's medical staff clears the linebacker.

The key will be whether or not McKinzy can go through a full-contact practice.

"I'm going to wait and see," Johnson said. "I'm always going to be optimistic. If you can't have any contact this week I always lean toward not letting them play but they haven't told me that yet."