Story Poster
Photo by Jamie Maury, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football

Aggies avoiding serious injury bug through first two weeks of practice

August 15, 2021
13,773

The usual bumps and bruises have arisen through two weeks of Texas A&M football’s August camp.

Thus far, the Aggies have avoided the rashes, though.

The Aggies were victimized in 2020 by a rash of injuries that claimed tight ends Baylor Cupp and Blake Smith and receiver Kamron Buckley in camp and receiver Caleb Chapman early in the season.

Coach Jimbo Fisher announced on Sunday that A&M has been fortunate to avoid significant injuries. Other programs, like Florida, which lost starting cornerback Jaydon Hill for the season, have not been so lucky.

“You’ve always got some guys bumped and bruised, but that’s part of it,” Fisher said.

Cupp (shoulder), Chapman (knee), center Luke Matthews (shoulder) and receiver Demond Demas (foot) have been hampered by injuries. However, Fisher indicated they were all making significant progress toward playing in the season-opener against Kent State on Sept. 4.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs
Baylor Cupp has practiced some this fall as he continues to come back from a shoulder injury.

“Matthews is back in practice and doing well,” Fisher said. “Demond is still healing well. He’s been in meetings. He’s been very energetic, interacting, knowing what to do. (He’s) been great with the guys.”

Cupp was in t-shirt and shirts on Friday when his teammates began practicing in full pads. Fisher said that was a matter of managing his return to action.

“Cupp will be back,” Fisher said. “We’re working with him to make sure we put his body load back in, and we don’t overload him.”

Chapman appeared to be on the verge of a “break out” year in 2020. He had 14 catches for 197 yards and three touchdowns before sustaining his season-ending knee injury in the third game.

Fisher said Chapman is on pace to get back on the field.

“Caleb is in a non-contact jersey, but he’s running every route and practicing every rep,” Fisher said. “We want to ease him into contact as we go. We’re limiting when he can get bumped and bruised. Sometimes (the non-contact jersey is) on, and sometimes it’s off. He’s practiced the last two or three days and went really good.”

That positive health report might have been at least one reason Fisher appeared in a jovial mood prior to practice.

He is also feeling good because of the progress he’s seeing from his entire team and the members of the eighth-ranked 2021 recruiting class.

“I think our guys are doing a really nice job. Continuing to progress,” Fisher said. “They’re starting to get into camp very heavily now. The bangs and bruises and you find how much you love football.

“After the first couple of days, the shine wears off. You can’t see the end of the rainbow quite yet for the season, so you find out how much you really like going into practice each and every day.

“After the first couple of days, the shine wears off. You can’t see the end of the rainbow quite yet for the season, so you find out how much you really like going into practice each and every day.”
- A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher

“The guys are doing a good job. They seem to be getting better.”

That includes the newcomers.

“Very excited about our young guys,” Fisher said. “If you were a fisherman, you wouldn’t throw any of them out of the live well. You’ll keep who you got. We’re happy with those guys.

“They fit in, not only body size and athletically, but mentally they’re learning how to go. They’re doing a good job adjusting.”

The Aggies have been working heavily on situational football in recent practices. The last couple of days, they worked extensively on third-down situations. They’re focused more on red-zone execution now. Next, Fisher said they will work heavily on two-minute drills.

Obviously, he’ll be closely watching how quarterbacks Zach Calzada and Haynes King perform as they compete to replace Kellen Mond as the starter.

“I’ve been riding our guys pretty good,” Fisher said of the quarterbacks. “I’ve been pushing them. I want to see who can mentally do the things you’ve got to do, but they’re also progressing very nicely.”

Fisher couldn’t — or wouldn’t — yet say who will emerge as the starting quarterback.

However, he did reveal that whoever is the starter probably won’t be resigned to starting most series at the 25-yard line.

Last season, the Aggies ranked last in the nation in kickoff yardage largely because they only returned three.

Instead, Fisher chose to exercise the option to take possession at the 25-yard line. A 25-yard average ranked 19th nationally in kickoff returns last season.

The Aggies have a lot of big-play threats, so expect them to challenge opposing coverage teams this year.

“We have to do a good job (scouting) the (opposing) kicker, his hang time, how athletic they are on the field, what’s going on, how our matchups are,” Fisher said. “But we’ll definitely take shots at it. There’s no doubt.”

Some suspect speedy sophomore Devon Achane will get frequent opportunities to return kickoffs.

“I would suspect that pretty well,” Fisher said.

Discussion from...

Aggies avoiding serious injury bug through first two weeks of practice

9,428 Views | 24 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by GigEmTx
e=mc2
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Don't jinx it Olin!
My Name Is Judge
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Jesus

This article is like a HossAg level jinx

Uncle Jimbo
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Olin talks about no hitters in the 6th inning.
Jbob04
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
&ct=g
CrottyKid
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
T&Ps for our team.
tk for tu juan
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Remember when baseball had Wacha and Stripling and a Texags article jinx the team just before post season?
nomadic_ag
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
[everyone knocks on wood]
Tibbers
How long do you want to ignore this user?
This had to have been written by a tone deaf sports fan or they just aren't a sports fan at all.

Instead of talking about the good things that have been going on, the freshmen stepping up, players getting back to the field, the quarterback battle, the running back battle, the wide receivers stepping up, the offensive line working as a unit, the tight ends stepping up, the cornerbacks becoming a strength, the linebacker corps, the dline being one of the best in the nation

Naw, let's just talk about that which should not be talked about. "That's universally stupid man. Yo, you an amateur man."

tk for tu juan
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Welp, I'm off to say Candyman five times in the mirror so I do not have to see the outcome
Tibbers
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Nm
P.U.T.U
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
The same guys getting hurt again, not a good sign but hey spin it and say it's a good thing
AgOutsideAustin
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Demas with a foot injury not good
strbrst777
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Olin was quoting Jimbo. Quotes from an interview with reporters. I just watched a clip of the entire interview.
4
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
AgOutsideAustin said:

Demas with a foot injury not good

That is minor, and they've said so the whole time.

Cupp on the other hand... That poor guy just can't stay healthy. At this point, I wonder if he'll ever see the field again.
AgOutsideAustin
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Hope so but I don't think he played in the Spring game and now limited in fall camp. Just want to see if he can play or not. We need him as a deep threat to compliment Chapman.
Tibbers
How long do you want to ignore this user?
strbrst777 said:

Olin was quoting Jimbo. Quotes from an interview with reporters. I just watched a clip of the entire interview.


Yes and bad reporters asking bad questions.
A New Hope
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Way to jinx it stupid sip lurker reporters
Hey Nav
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Quote:

Olin talks about no hitters in the 6th inning.
I laughed. Good stuff.
Atreides Ornithopter
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Can Olin write an article on how I will never win the megamillions?
https://i.postimg.cc/rpHKr9JQ/IMG-0770.jpg
Mistakenly
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Geez. Superstition is alive and well in Aggieland.

You all know that a superstition is only a superstition as long as it is not a superstition.

i.e. When it is the TRUTH.

Those of you responding here definitely believe in your superstitions. For YOU... THEY ARE FACT. Just listen to yourself.

(I had my fingers crossed as I wrote this.)
Bison
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Why doesn't Bama worry about injuries?

Depth.

It's something we're improving, too.
Eagle78
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Luke already starting to have shoulder issues concerns me greatly. They definitely need a plan C in case Both Matthews and Wykoff go down.
jb 00
How long do you want to ignore this user?
https://spitspit.com/
GigEmTx
How long do you want to ignore this user?
When you read past the title, you'll see the last point that's the best one - that the safe path of letting every kickoff bounce from last year is under further review. With the speed we have on the field, somebody's gonna light up some return coverage teams.
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.