Virginia Football Offseason Injury Report

Tony Elliott provided a few injury updates on players that will be out or limited for spring practice

Virginia head football coach Tony Elliott held a press conference on Wednesday for National Signing Day and also answered questions on a variety of other offseason topics related to the UVA football program. During the press conference, Elliott provided status updates on several injured players and what their availability is expected to be for spring practice, which is set to begin on Tuesday, March 14th. 

Junior guard Noah Josey is expected to be limited in spring practice after undergoing back surgery this offseason. 

Junior running back Amaad Foston, who missed the entire 2022 season after tearing his ACL in fall camp, has been participating in recent workouts with the rest of the running backs and Tony Elliott said he is "excited to see him get back out there." 

Elliott added that former four-star wide receiver Dakota Twitty is expected to miss spring practice after he redshirted his freshman season at UVA with a knee injury. 

On the defensive side of the ball, senior nose tackle Olasunkonmi Agunloye will also miss spring ball with a pectoral injury. Fifth-year linebacker Josh Ahern will also be out this spring. 

Fifth-year bandit defensive lineman Chico Bennett Jr., who was twice named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and garnered an All-ACC honorable mention in 2022, is expected to be out for spring practice with a shoulder injury. 

A few additional players will be limited for spring practice and could miss spring ball entirely depending on how they progress in their recoveries. Senior cornerback Elijah Gaines, junior safety Jonas Sanker, and sixth-year defensive tackle Aaron Faumui will all be limited or down for the spring. 

Elliott also reported that rising sophomore offensive tackle Houston Curry had his appendix removed recently, but Elliott is hoping to get Curry back at some point in the spring. The same goes for senior tight end Sackett Wood Jr., who had a procedure to clean up bone spurs in his ankle, but is expected to return some time during spring practice. 

Tony Elliott was also asked about the status of Mike Hollins, who is still recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and D'Sean Perry on November 13th. Hollins has resolved to make a return to the field and Elliott was happy to report on Wednesday that the fifth-year running back is making solid progress towards that goal. 

"I'm proud of Mike, really really proud of Mike and just the perseverance that he showed to get back to where he is to be working out with the guys," Elliott said on Wednesday. "Not a ton of restrictions, still a little bit limited on some things, but we're anticipating that he could be turned loose. But it'll be a situation where we make sure that we monitor it closely and we do what's best for Mike in his progression back."

Elliott reported that junior offensive lineman Hugh Laughlin has retired from playing football due to a series of medical problems, but Laughlin will remain with the team as a recruiter. 

Virginia is set to begin spring practice on Tuesday, March 14th, the beginning of a series of 15 practices that will culminate in the UVA Spring Game on Saturday, April 15th at 2pm at Scott Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network. 

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