Arkansas State football

Cast keeps Girley on the field, so far

Charleston Girley mug shot for Arkansas State story by Schulte
Charleston Girley mug shot for Arkansas State story by Schulte

Charleston Girley has played the last two games with a hard cast covering his injured left wrist. But the junior from Pine Bluff might have played his last down for Arkansas State this season.

ASU Coach Blake Anderson said Monday that Girley will have his wrist re-evaluated by doctors today, with the possibility of him having season-ending surgery sometime this week.

"We're not sure if the status is going to change," Anderson said. "There are differences of opinion and they really don't know until they go in and do more extensive evaluations. But there is a real potential that we could lose him for the season, and it's going to have to be repaired surgically within the week or so."

Anderson said he's not sure how Girley, who won the starting nickelback job in fall camp, injured the wrist, but that it happened in a 35-19 loss at Tennessee on Sept. 6. He started in a Sept. 13 loss at Miami and came off the bench in Saturday's overtime victory over Utah State.

Senior Frankie Jackson started in his place Saturday, but Girley was credited with 4 tackles, 1 sack and he broke up Darell Garretson's fourth-down pass in overtime to preserve the 21-14 victory. He is fifth on the team with 17 tackles, and has 2 1/2 tackles for loss.

Anderson said there is still a possibility Girley could continue to play with the cast.

"If he's able to play with the injury, which he's been playing with, he'll play with the cast. We really don't know," Anderson said. "The conversation has really changed in the last week as to potentially needing to do more work on it."

Anderson added Monday that he expects running back Michael Gordon to return from bruised ribs when ASU (2-2) hosts Louisiana-Monroe (2-1, 1-0) in its Sun Belt Conference opener on Oct. 4

Gordon hasn't practiced much in the last two weeks, but should return next Tuesday following ASU's bye week. Gordon has missed the last two games after originally injuring the ribs in the season-opener against Montana State. Gordon led ASU with 754 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and was named preseason All-Sun Belt. But his injured ribs have limited him to 85 yards on 14 rushes this season.

"We expect him to play," Anderson said. "He's be able to get into drill work, start catching the ball and running around. I expect he'll be full go next Tuesday and be ready to play next Saturday."

ASU is averaging 160.8 rushing yards per game and 3.5 yards per rush this season and have been led by walk-on Johnston White the last two weeks. White rushed for 83 yards and 1 touchdown against Miami, and 100 yards and 1 touchdown on Saturday.

Anderson said after Saturday's victory that White will still get carries when Gordon returns.

"He's steady. Guys love him to death," Anderson said. "He just goes about his job and plays tough. He's given us a steady, steady, steps with Mike being out. But [White] is still going to be involved."

Sports on 09/23/2014

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