Healthy players are numbered at Stanford’s 1st spring practice

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On the first night of Stanford’s spring football practice, David Shaw ran his charges through their paces Tuesday — that is, the relatively few who were available.

It’s doubtful that the Cardinal have been this shorthanded in Shaw’s seven previous springs as the head coach.

The list of players not taking part in at least the first of two two-week sessions includes tailback Bryce Love, quarterback K.J. Costello and backup QB Davis Mills, outside linebacker Joey Alfieri, inside linebacker Sean Barton, center Jesse Burkett and wide receiver Jay Tyler.

Shaw said he would like to get Love back for the second session. “At 80 percent, he’s still faster than anybody else,” he said, indicating that the ankle injury that bothered the record-setting tailback over the second half of last season is still troublesome.

The man of the hour is 6-foot-5 walk-on quarterback Jack Richardson. The son of former athletes at Stanford set numerous passing records at Palma High in Salinas. Now, he’s the only healthy signal-caller at a school known for producing them.

Richardson didn’t receive action as a freshman in 2016. He played at the tail end of last year’s opening 62-7 win over Rice in Sydney, but didn’t throw a pass.

“Jack Richardson is getting a lot of reps,” Shaw said. “He’s been around now for a while, and he knows what to do. He has great command of the huddle, and the guys love him. So we’re going to ride Jack right into the spring.”

At times, offensive coordinator Tavita Pritchard, a former quarterback, will relieve Richardson during practice. Ryan Burns, who is out of eligibility, threw for some of the receivers’ individual routes Tuesday night.

Offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, left, working with his players during practice for the Stanford football team at Stanford, Calif., on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, left, working with his players during practice for the Stanford football team at Stanford, Calif., on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Healthy players are numbered at Stanford’s 1st spring practice 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Tyler, who played quarterback in high school, will be back in the second session, but Shaw said he doesn’t plan to enlist him to get behind center.

Costello’s injury, reportedly to his hip, bothered him late last season, including the loss to USC in the Pac-12 title game and the loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl, Shaw said. It was not disclosed at the time.

“Obviously, it didn’t inhibit his performance,” he said. “It was smart to get it taken care of. It was his first year of playing college football, and he got beaten up a little bit, more so than we’d like. But he’s on course to make a full recovery.”

Mills, who arrived on campus with a knee problem from high school, had “a bit of a setback” last year, according to Shaw. “Both guys should be back for training camp. We’ll still be cautious at the beginning of training camp.”

Alfieri and Burkett will miss all of spring practice. Defensive tackle Michael Williams, who underwent heart surgery in January, is restricted to individual drills, Shaw said. “He’s feels great,” he said. “It’s not that long of a recovery. His cardiac health is great. ... He’s probably feeling as good as he’s felt in a long time.”