Virginia QB Tony Muskett "Day-to-Day" for JMU Game With Injured Shoulder

UVA head coach Tony Elliott gave updates on quarterback Tony Muskett and a few other injured Cavaliers ahead of Saturday's JMU game

Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett is currently "day-to-day" with a left shoulder injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of UVA's season-opening loss to Tennessee, according to an update from Virginia head coach Tony Elliott on Tuesday. 

"Tony's day-to-day. He's getting more range of motion in his shoulder," Elliott said. "But he wants to play. He's pushing to play. Each day is encouraging, but right now he's day-to-day with a shoulder." 

Elliott added later that he feels comfortable making a "game-time decision" on whether Muskett will start or if true freshman Anthony Colandrea will make his first-career collegiate start. Colandrea played two full drives and 19 total snaps at the end of the Tennessee game in relief of Muskett, completing two of seven passing attempts for 12 yards and rushing twice for 17 yards. 

In other injury news, Elliott confirmed the worst expectation that senior defensive tackle Olasunkonmi Agunloye is out for the season after rupturing the patellar tendon in both of his knees during the Tennessee game. Agunloye underwent a surgery on both knees and Elliott reported that the surgery was successful, but Agunloye will be out for the rest of the season. 

On the more positive side, Elliott reported that graduate defensive end Chico Bennett is back in practice and is currently "day-to-day" as he continues to recovery from a knee injury suffered in fall camp. Bennett is not listed on Virginia's depth chart for the JMU game, but Elliott is not ruling out the possibility that Bennett could play on Saturday. 

"Didn't want to list him on the depth chart because [we] didn't know, but he was out there today in limited reps, but able to go full speed," Elliott said of Bennett on Tuesday. "So we'll ramp him up and again, he'll be a game-time decision." 

See Virginia's full depth chart for the JMU game here.

Antonio Clary is also not listed on the depth chart for the second game in a row, but Elliott says the fifth-year safety is "getting closer" to returning from a high ankle sprain. 

"Clary is getting closer. He was out in practice today - modified just from a rep standpoint, but he's moving around a lot better," Elliott said, before adding that both Clary and Bennett could be in the lineup on Saturday depending on how they progress through the rest of the week. 

Elliott reported that senior tight end Sackett Wood, fifth-year linebacker Josh Ahern, and junior linebacker Lex Long are "probable" to play in the JMU game. "They're dealing with some injuries that may keep them out, so I'd say 'probable' with those guys," Elliott said. 

All three of those players are still listed on this week's depth chart, but Virginia also listed senior Josh Rawlings as an option at tight end along with Wood and Grant Misch. 

Finally, Elliott said that Penn State grad transfer tackle Jimmy Christ is back in practice, but may take another week before he's ready to be inserted into the lineup for conditioning reasons. 

"Jimmy Christ is back in practice and so he's available. Gotta see where is from a conditioning standpoint because he's been out for a couple of weeks, but he is available to go and practice the last couple of days." 

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