AUBURN, Alabama — Auburn may be without its fastest receiver when the season opens Aug. 31 against Oregon, Auburn Undercover has learned.

Receiver Anthony Schwartz injured a hand in practice Sunday during a blocking drill, and and is expected to need surgery to repair at least one broken bone, a source tells AUC. The surgery could be conducted as early as today. It's not clear how many practices the star receiver will miss healing his hand, and whether he can participate in non-contact drills, but coaches are more concerned about whether the sophomore will be available for the season opener at the AdvoCare Classic in Arlington, Texas.

UPDATE: Schwartz underwent a surgical procedure Monday afternoon to repair the hand. He is expected to miss at least three weeks of workouts, but could potentially sit out longer, a source said.

Schwartz blew up as a true freshman in 2018, combining for 568 yards and seven touchdowns as a runner and pass-catcher at receiver. He skipped spring practices in March and April to focus on his track career.

The freshman was a nice replacement for injured receiver Eli Stove during the 2018 season. He replaced Stove's production as an end-around and jet-sweep runner, and quickly became a threat down the field because of his world-class track speed. Now the roles have flipped. Stove will likely be looked upon to replace Schwartz during his absence from the field.

Stove suffered a major knee injury in March 2018 and underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He played in four games in 2018, but was never full speed. He finally was cleared to remove a knee brace April 13, the day of the A-Day game in the spring.

Stove busted on the scene with 265 yards on 29 catches, but he was most explosive on jet-sweep actions with 30 carries for 315 yards and two touchdowns in 2017. He recorded 10 explosive plays of 20 yards or longer.

Schwartz nearly replicated that production last season.

"I’m taking it (back)," Stove said in April. "He’ll get it too, though. We’ll balance it out.”

Schwartz broke the school's 60-meter dash record for a freshman twice with times of 6.62 seconds and 6.59 seconds at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational in the spring. He also won a gold medal in the 60-meter dash at the Bob Pollock Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina with a time of 6.65 seconds.

Schwartz was forced to sit out a portion of the track season with a hamstring injury, and returned to football workouts in the summer.

Coaches were contemplating whether to move Schwartz and Seth Williams outside to replace the production of Darius Slayton, the Tigers' top deep threat last season. Slayton declared for the NFL Draft after catching three touchdown passes and recording 160 yards in the Music City Bowl in December.

Schwartz had 357 receiving yards and two touchdowns to go along with 211 yards and five rushing touchdowns as a freshman.

Thank you for all y’all thoughts and prayers, it was a success today, can’t wait to get back on that field with my brothers???????????? — Anthony Schwartz (@anthony_flash10) August 5, 2019

Auburn Undercover will update this story.

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