Tyler Nero Western Carolina

Auburn defensive lineman Tyler Nero (91) runs up field against Western Carolina Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, during the fourth quarter at the Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn reserve defensive lineman Tyler Nero was hospitalized after falling to the turf during practice Thursday, but the sophomore is said to be OK.

Nero did not participate in practice Saturday, but he was back on the sidelines, coach Gus Malzahn said.

"I'm not going to get into specifics but he was back out there today and that's a good thing," Malzahn said. "We'll see moving forward."

Nero collapsed in practice Thursday and was transported to the East Alabama Medical Center by ambulance. Malzahn left practice to tend to Nero at the hospital and returned to the Auburn Athletics Complex shortly before the end of the morning practice.

"Any time somebody is lying down kinda still, it's kinda scary," defensive tackle Gabe Wright said.

Doctors ran tests on the Atmore native, but details -- including whether it was connected to a preexisting condition -- were not made available by Malzahn.

"Any time any player gets hurt, as a coach, you're definitely concerned," Malzahn said.

Nero passed out during a "pace" drill, a routine workout early in practice in which Auburn runs its offense at a fast pace against the defense.

"My group was coming off again and they only had three people and we were like, 'What's going on?'" Wright said. "Then we noticed Tyler still lying (down) and everybody was over there with him."

About 10 of Nero's teammates visited Nero in the hospital late Thursday. Nero was doing fine, Wright said, and they all enjoyed some Sprite and juice in his room.

Wright doesn't believe Nero's issue is serious, and said tests on his heart came back normal.

"We were kinda laughing and enjoying the moment," Wright said.

Nero played in one game as a redshirt freshman in 2013 and had one tackle.