Wormley injury to end his football season

Surgery expected on knee to repair torn ACL

8/17/2012

ANN ARBOR -- Chris Wormley is expected to miss the 2012 season with the Michigan football team, after he suffered a knee injury earlier this week.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke said the Whitmer graduate has not yet undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL, an injury Wormley sustained Tuesday during a preseason practice.

"He has not, and he will," Hoke said Thursday during weekly media availability at Schembechler Hall. "Sometime in the near future."

Hoke did not elaborate on any plans the Michigan staff has as far as potentially redshirting Wormley, but confirmed that Wormley, most likely, will miss the year.

When asked how Wormley tore his ACL, Hoke was succinct in his answer.

"Just playing football," Hoke said.

While Michigan does not allow its freshman to address the media, Wormley posted to his Twitter account Wednesday, a day after he sustained the injury.

"Thanks to all who has shown their support! Just a bump in the road. No worries. #GOBLUE," Wormley wrote to his 2,582 followers.

Wormley's injury is the second significant medical issue that Michigan has faced in the preseason. Wide receiver Roy Roundtree underwent arthoscopic knee surgery last week to remove cartilage.

Wormley's injury is also the third reported instance of ACL tears within major college football programs in the last 10 days. Maryland lost its starting quarterback, C.J. Brown, for the season after the redshirt junior tore his ACL Tuesday during non-contact drills.

Notre Dame -- Michigan's opponent on Sept. 22 in South Bend, Ind. -- announced Thursday that tight end Alex Welch will miss the season after tearing his ACL last week during practice.

ROUNDTREE UPDATE: Roundtree is expected to return to Michigan's lineup in time for the season opener Sept. 1 against Alabama in Arlington, Texas, and Hoke said the redshirt senior receiver is going through rehabilitation.

"He's doing great," Hoke said.

Roundtree's return depends on two factors.

"Him feeling better, and the doctor feeling good and comfortable about it," Hoke said. "He's with the rehab specialist every day, and we obviously communicate."

SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE: The Wolverines completed their 14th practice Thursday, and plan to stage their first intrasquad scrimmage Saturday in Ann Arbor, two weeks before their season opener.

"We're pretty excited for it, but we're worried about practice (Friday)," sophomore defensive end Brennen Beyer said. "We've got to pick it up."

Beyer sees the areas his unit is improving on through the course of the preseason.

"Our technique's getting a lot better, and understanding the plays," Beyer said.

NO CHANGE FOR TOUSSAINT: As of Thursday night, Hoke said tailback Fitzgerald Toussaint continues to practice with the team, but a decision on his status for the season opener is still undeclared.

"He's out there, like the others, running around," Hoke said of Toussaint, who began practicing Monday.

Toussaint originally was suspended indefinitely last month after his arrest on a drunk-driving charge.

THE LEGEND OF DENARD GROWS: Over the weekend, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson boasted that he could beat Usain Bolt in the 40-yard dash.

On Thursday, Wolverines cornerback J.T. Floyd added to Robinson's athletic lore.

"If you saw Denard Robinson on the basketball court, you'd think he plays for the Michigan Wolverines," said Floyd, a redshirt senior.

Does Floyd believe Robinson could be a good cornerback?

"Better than me," Floyd said, grinning.

Contact Rachel Lenzi at: rlenzi@theblade.com, 419-724-6510 or on Twitter @RLenziBlade.