Nov. 15, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - The injuries continue to mount at Auburn, so much so the Tigers will be without a number of starters in the backfield and quarterback Sean White is questionable for Saturday's game against Alabama A&M.
SEC leading rusher Kamryn Pettway will miss another game with a leg injury.
White has a shoulder injury. Receiver and punter returner Marcus Davis will miss the final two regular-season games with a shoulder injury, H-back Chandler Cox is out with a leg injury, running back Stanton Truitt won't play because of an ankle injury and special teams player Josh Shockley is out with a shoulder injury.
Coach Gus Malzahn said Tuesday he's "not ready to make a call" on whether White will play Saturday. "We'll play him when he's healthy," Malzahn said. He also said John Franklin III and Jeremy Johnson are in line at quarterback if needed.
Malzahn said he's hopeful Pettway will be well enough to play against Alabama on Nov. 26 as Auburn nurses its injured players to the Iron Bowl.
Running back Kerryon Johnson may play, but hasn't been completely healthy in weeks because of an ankle injury. Freshman Kam Martin will fill in at running back. Defensive back Rudy Ford may play running back, too. Malik Miller, who had knee surgery after the second game of the season, will practice this week and could play.
"We'll see how all that goes," Malzahn said. "I'll probably have a better idea running back-wise what our plan will be toward the end of the week."
Malzahn said White is "kind of day-to-day, week-to-week deal. We'll see how that goes this week."
Auburn's injuries multiplied against Georgia last Saturday.
Malzahn said the loss of Davis with a shoulder injury is "a tough blow."
"He was one of our leaders and, obviously, our punt returner."
Malzahn said Cox is out, but "we're hopeful to have him back for the Iron Bowl."
"Kamryn Pettway will not play again this week. Same status. We hope to have him for the Iron Bowl.
"Stanton Truitt injured his ankle early in the game. He tried to keep fighting through; couldn't go in the second half. He swelled up pretty good. He'll be out this week. We're hopeful to have him for the Iron Bowl also."
Malzahn said Shockley is out for both Alabama A&M and Alabama.
White said he suffered a second injury to his shoulder in last Saturday's 13-7 loss at Georgia.
"I kind of hurt myself a little bit more during the game," White said Sunday. "I think I could have done a little better job letting the coaches know. I wanted to play for my team and I wanted to try to win."
Auburn is 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Alabama A&M is 4-6.
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine