AUBURN, Alabama — At least 12 players sat out most of Auburn’s A-Day scrimmage Saturday.

Most of the absences were the result of injuries, while others were held out for precautionary reasons. One thing stood out: most of the injuries were on offense, which was debilitated most of the spring with injuries to star players.

The three players noticeably absent and seemingly healthy were on offense: tailback Kam Martin, who is competing for a starting job; top receiver Ryan Davis (hamstring); and starting H-Back Chandler Cox.

Martin sat out because of a “little bit of a tweak to his hamstring,” coach Gus Malzahn said. “He was going to see if he could go in pre-game and he just said, ‘Hey, I'm not 100 percent.’ Here's the thing with Kam: We know what we get with Kam. He's had a very good spring. I know (running backs) coach (Tim) Horton was planning on getting the majority of the reps with those young guys, anyway.”

As for Cox? Well, he wasn’t injured.

“There really wasn't anything wrong with him at all,” Malzahn said. “He's a three-year starter. He's got more experience at that position than we've ever had so we wanted to give those other guys opportunities to show what they could do, especially with the [starters]. I thought that was good and that will give us some depth.”

Meanwhile, receivers Eli Stove and Will Hastings sat out the scrimmage (and will do so for likely most, if not all, of the 2018 season) after tearing anterior cruciate ligaments earlier during spring practices. Centers Nick Brahms (broken left leg) and Kaleb Kim (right ankle) did not play, but both are expected to be OK for late summer workouts. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham sat out the scrimmage nursing his surgically-repaired, non-throwing shoulder.

Newcomers such as linebacker Josh Marsh (foot) and defensive lineman Daquan Newkirk (Achilles heel) were not available at all during the spring.

Defensive backs Jeremiah Dinson and Jordyn Peters suffered injuries to their left shoulder and right ankle, respectively, during the first half of the scrimmage Saturday. Dinson’s injury appears to be more serious. He wore a sling for the entire second half while walking the sideline. Auburn is not yet sure if Dinson’s injury is serious in nature.

Lineman Brodarious Hamm had a brief scare with a knee injury but was able to walk after the scrimmage. “We’ll see how that ends up,” Malzahn said.

Auburn is set to host a light workout Monday morning and conduct a practice focused on special teams and cleaning up mistakes from the scrimmage Tuesday before closing spring drills.



A-Day absences

QB Jarrett Stidham (shoulder)

HB Chandler Cox (coach's decision)

RB Kam Martin (hamstring)

WR Ryan Davis (hamstring)

WR Eli Stove (ACL)

WR Will Hastings (ACL)

OL Brodarious Hamm (knee)

DB Jeremiah Dinson (shoulder)

DB Jordyn Peters (ankle)

C Nick Brahms (left fibula)

C Kaleb Kim (right ankle)

LB Josh Marsh (foot)

DL Daquan Newkirk (Achilles heel)

*** Subscribe: Try Auburn Undercover's VIP package FOR FREE and get the latest intel ***



*** Get free breaking news in the Auburn Undercover newsletter ***