Medical Reports Overshadow First Outdoor Practice

Good weather meant Oregon St. got outside of the Truax Center for the first time this spring, in the Beavers' fifth practice, something everyone has been looking forward to.

But while Ryan Katz and Peter Lalich continued their battle for the starting QB job, and both are anticipating Friday's "scrum", as Coach Mike Riley described what will not be a full scrimmage, but will approach it, the days activities were overshadowed by medical reports, both good and bad.

They removed a foreign particle and hopefully that solves the problem.

DE Mitchel Hunt, who isn't working during spring ball while re-habbing from knee surgery, also had a followup procedure done, to "Do a little cleanup,'' as Riley termed it, "and that went well.''

Reserve TE Colby Prince went down while running a pass pattern, and had to be helped off the field.

It's a hamstring injury, Riley said. Not sure how bad it is yet."

Middle linebacker Kevin (Feti) Unga skipped practice action, nursing a hip problem, and starting safety Lance Mitchell also stayed on the sideline, with a sore hamstring, in the opposite led from which Mitchell previously has had a problem this spring.

With the numerous other issues on the defense, the injuries to Unga and Mitchell are reason for some concern.

The injuries are one reason why Friday's scrimmage will be managed a bit. While some positions need full competition with starters against starters, avoiding too many more critical players getting banged up is becoming important as well. It's why RB Jacquizz Rogers won't be in harms way during the scrum.

"He doesn't need any practice getting tackled,'' Riley remarked.

Defensive tackle Stephen Paea will also be held out of Friday's action.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com