AIR FORCE ACADEMY — A number of key players missed or were limited in Air Force’s practice Monday, but coach Troy Calhoun wasn’t ready to say if the injuries would keep any of them out of Saturday’s game against New Mexico at Falcon Stadium.
Receiver Garrett Brown, safety Jamal Byrd and outside linebacker Dexter Walker watched practice in street clothes. Quarterback Kale Pearson and linebacker Jordan Pierce saw some reps but did not complete practice.
“It will be after tomorrow. In about 24 hours, we’ll know,” Calhoun said Monday night. “We’ll know who’s up and ready to go.”
Calhoun made mention of the shorter turnaround — with the game at Utah State not ending until nearly midnight last Saturday — as perhaps part of the reason for the large number of players out of practice.
He did not specify which ailments kept the players out. Brown stayed down with what looked like a knee injury Saturday, but he returned to the game. He walked without a limp or any noticeable problem Monday. Walker also stayed down on a play and returned, but it was not clear what he had injured.
Byrd has missed several games this year with a concussion. He left Saturday and did not return. He tweeted during the game, relaying his frustration.
Pierce practiced Monday but did not run conditioning drills because of a toe injury.
Pearson saw some time after spraining his nonthrowing shoulder Saturday, but he also sat out at the end. Nate Romine saw the majority of reps at quarterback.
The offense took some time to adjust to Romine in the second quarter Saturday, gaining just 20 yards in 10 plays and turning the ball over on an interception. An eight-point deficit turned to a 31-6 hole for the Falcons during that span.
Pearson returned to the game, but Romine saw a bit more action and was more effective. Calhoun said he would not have changed anything with Romine’s preparation in previous practices, but that it can simply take a quarterback some time to adjust after seeing little game action. Romine played a few snaps in the season opener in late August but hadn’t played regularly since last season.
“You look at 21 other spots. Even as a backup center, you can get involved in a kickoff team or other special teams,” Calhoun said. “But at that spot it’s just a little more difficult to get involved.”
Linebacker Joey Nichol also missed practice Monday.
