Florida State RB Pender hospitalized due to collapsed lung

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida State running back Mario Pender has been hospitalized since Tuesday because of a collapsed lung that he suffered during practice.

Coach Jimbo Fisher said the injury occurred when Pender ran into the back one of one of his own guys, and said Pender could be released Thursday night.

The 10th-ranked Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are off this week. Fisher said there is a possibility that Pender could play Oct. 3 at Wake Forest.

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''I mean, (it was) just a bump,'' Fisher said. ''It wasn't even a hard shot, he was running backwards he made a cut and one of his lineman came back and hit it and he kept on going. Then he said he had trouble breathing and it was a collapsed lung.''

In three games, Pender has 140 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown. Dalvin Cook, who is Florida State's lead back and leads the ACC in rushing, was knocked out during the second half of last Friday's 14-0 win at Boston College due to an upper-body injury but has practiced this week and is not expected to miss any games.

If Pender is unable to play, Jacques Patrick or Johnathan Vickers would get carries. Pender, a junior, has struggled with injuries during his collegiate career. He missed the 2012 season due to a groin injury and missed five games last year due to a concussion and ankle injury. He was academically ineligible in 2013.

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