Jimbo Fisher Provides Injury Update On Four Texas A&M Aggies
Positivity is hard to come by for Texas A&M during its bye week, but Jimbo Fisher did present a glimmer of hope heading into Week 9's matchup against South Carolina.
During Wednesday's SEC Coaches teleconference call, Fisher said that defensive back Bryce Anderson, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Albert Regis were all progressing well following injuries suffered in Week 7. Anderson did not play in the Aggies' 20-13 loss against No. 19 Tennessee, while Cooper, Nolen, and Regis all left with undisclosed ailments before the final whistle.
“Bryce was back in practice yesterday,” Fisher said. “Walter is getting over an injury, I think definitely well. Coop is the same way. Albert is coming back, yes. He’s working his way back in.”
Regis left during the second quarter and reappeared from the locker room crutches. Cooper, who leads the nation in tackles for losses (13.5), left just before halftime and did not return.
Nolen, perhaps A&M's top interior defensive lineman, left fans holding their breath after being carted off with a lower-body injury with just under seven remaining in the fourth quarter. The former No. 1 defensive recruit has been a staple in helping fortify A&M's run game during his sophomore season.
Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Chris Russell (No. 24) makes a stop against Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (No. 0) at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.
Saul Young-USA TODAY Sports
Fisher, who now faces pressures to win out the remainder of the season, didn't give an exact timetable as to when the quartet of defensive players would return, but he did seem confident they all would be medically cleared to return for next week's matchup against the Gamecocks at Kyle Field.
“Things can change day by day, doctor to doctor, you know what I’m saying? With what happens and if they keep progressing," Fisher said. "They seem to be right now.”
The Aggies (4-3, 2-2 SEC) have dominated the Battle for the Bonham Trophy since joining the SEC in 2012. A&M won eight consecutive games against South Carolina (2-4, 1-3 SEC) starting in 2014, but saw its streak come to an end in a 30-24 loss at Williams-Brice Stadium last October.
The Gamecocks went on to pull off upsets over Tennessee and Clemson and finish the season 8-4. The Aggies continued to pile up losses before winning back-to-back games over UMass and LSU to finish 5-7.
Kickoff at Kyle Field is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Oct. 28.
