Boulder – Backup center Bryce MacMartin likely will return to practice Thursday from a high ankle sprain, Colorado coach Gary Barnett said Sunday.
MacMartin hurt the ankle during Friday’s practice and was taken for X-rays.
Fullback Lawrence Vickers practiced in a blue, “no-contact” jersey after taking a blow to the head during Saturday’s practice.
“He was on a different planet (Sunday),” Barnett said. “But by the end, he was back on Earth.”
Barnett is crossing his fingers that a knee injury suffered by wide receiver Blake Mackey on Sunday isn’t serious.
“That’s what we’re hoping,” Barnett said. “We’ll know (today).”
Position battles
There are still a lot of decisions to be made, but after the first half-week of practices the first-team offensive line shaped up mostly like this: Mark Fenton at center, Jack Tipton and Brian Daniels at guards and Clint O’Neal and Tyler Polumbus at tackles.
In the secondary, it has been Lorenzo Sims and Gerett Burl at the corners and J.J. Billingsley and Dominique Brooks at the safeties. Ryan Walters got first-team reps Sunday in place of the injured Brooks (finger). Brooks is planning to return this week.
Full contact
Today is the first day CU will practice in full pads, although the first four practices have featured plenty of hitting. Barnett is planning to play it as safe as possible when the Buffs are in full gear.
“There isn’t much difference between full pads and what we’re doing now,” Barnett said. “We’ve got to be smart with it.”
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
