Missouri came out of the bye week with a healthier-looking roster, and Eli Drinkwitz spent Tuesday laying out exactly where things stand heading into the stretch run.
The head coach said the week off helped a number of Tigers, but he made it clear the team is done dealing with missing bodies the easy way. After 24 players were initially listed on Mizzou’s availability report before the Ole Miss game two weeks ago, Drinkwitz drew a line.
"I told our team, no more sick days," Drinkwitz said Tuesday during his weekly press conference with local reporters. "There's no more sick days.
We have five more weeks left in the SEC. We're all out.
We've used them all up."
One of the key names to watch is Robert Woodyard Jr., Missouri’s starting middle linebacker. Woodyard was considered questionable before the Ole Miss game, then played 42 snaps in the 31-3 loss and finished with one tackle. Drinkwitz said Woodyard had been "fighting through something" since the Tigers’ 45-17 win over Florida and was scheduled for a procedure last Monday.
Now, though, he’s back on the field. Drinkwitz said Woodyard practiced Monday and should land on the initial SEC availability report Wednesday night as questionable.
"He's good. He was at practice yesterday," Drinkwitz said.
"He's working to get back. We'll update that on Wednesday … I'm sure he'll be questionable on the injury report.
Then we'll figure out what Pete wants to report on Saturday morning or Friday night."
Elsewhere, Drinkwitz said JaDon Blair is ready to go for Saturday’s road game at Arkansas, which kicks off at 6:45 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Blair, a second-year safety who transferred from Notre Dame, has appeared in only the opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff this season after a hamstring injury slowed him down. Drinkwitz said it was a grade two hamstring issue and described Blair’s return as the result of a careful ramp-up.
"He had a hamstring injury I think in the first game of the year," Drinkwitz said. "It was a grade two hamstring, so that takes 4-6 weeks to get back.
We've been really smart in how we've handled that, but he's been good. He practiced last week, returned to a ramp-up, a two-week ramp-up, where he had individual, then a little bit more, and then yesterday, he was full-go.
That was really good.
"I don't have any expectations other than for him to compete. I think he did provide a lot on special teams, so we could see him really contribute in three of the four special teams, and maybe all four, as soon as he's capable. On the back end, I think we have a pretty good rhythm right now, so I hesitate to say we're going to put him in there, but obviously he's got to be ready, and if his number is called, he'll be ready to roll."
Drinkwitz also gave a timeline for Gavin Hoffman, who has missed the last five games after appearing against UAPB and Kansas. The third-year tight end suffered a fifth metatarsal fracture, and the coach said the injury happened while celebrating the win over Kansas - or in pregame, as he put it.
"Gavin Hoffman had a fifth metatarsal break celebrating the win against Kansas - or in pregame," Drinkwitz said. "We came back, felt something was off, and did an x-ray.
Had to have surgery. I think he's six weeks post-op.
It's a 6-8 week recovery.
"I think there's a pathway for him to be back the last two games of the season. That's what we're hopeful for.
But definitely if we are to qualify for a bowl game, I think there's opportunity for him to do that. That's the update on those two guys."
There was also good news on several players who were back on the practice field Monday. Brett Norfleet returned after missing the Ole Miss game, while Jeremiah Beasley also practiced after sitting out that one.
Beasley had been Missouri’s third linebacker behind Woodyard and Nick Rodriguez. Sterling Webb, who played only eight snaps against Ole Miss and had one tackle, was also back after being listed as questionable earlier in the week.
"I think the bye week was great for both of those guys," Drinkwitz said, referring to Beasley and Webb.
Drinkwitz added that Jahlil Florence, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue throughout the season, practiced fully Monday and is trending in the right direction. Santana Banner, one of Missouri’s starting safeties who has played in all seven games this season, has been working through "a hip thing," but the bye week helped clear it up.
Darris Smith, though, is still not all the way back. Missouri’s starting EDGE has been battling a high ankle sprain first suffered in the 27-17 win over Troy in September, and Drinkwitz said the injury is still hanging around.
"Darris Smith is still not quite where you hoped he'd be," Drinkwitz said. "He's just going to have to cut it loose and give it a go. Disappointing for him, I know, because of the nagging-ness of this injury, a high ankle sprain.
"Every day, we're getting a day closer to getting better."
Josh Atkins is the lone major long-term note. The Arizona State transfer was supposed to be Missouri’s starting right tackle, but an injury in spring ball followed by a setback in June has kept him sidelined. Drinkwitz said he is not expected back this season.
And when asked whether Atkins might be able to recoup another year and return in 2027, Drinkwitz wasn’t exactly bullish.
"It depends on what kind of lawyer he's got," Drinkwitz said Tuesday with a wry smile. "Start there first, then we'll go from there.
Will Kava is back here in the back. He's our compliance.
He's our direct liaison with the NCAA.
"From what I understand, you can file for a waiver. I don't believe that he would qualify for a waiver, just based on how many years he's played and how many waivers he's already had. But if he gets the right lawyer and the right judge, anything is possible."
Without Atkins, Luke Work has handled the job at right tackle all season. The Mississippi State transfer has started all seven games for Missouri and has allowed two sacks and 12 total pressures in 450 snaps.
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