BLOOMINGTON — Curt Cignetti said Indiana football has largely put the bumps and bruises of fall camp in the rear-view mirror.
As the first week of the Hoosiers’ regular season opens, with Old Dominion headed for Bloomington in six days, Cignetti said he’s pleased with the physical state of his roster at the start of year two.
“I feel really good about the health of our team right now,” Cignetti told reporters during his first weekly news conference of the season.
IU arrived to its formal preseason with a small handful of injury questions, many if not most of which have been answered. The most meaningful will probably have Drew Evans, Indiana’s starting left guard last season before a torn Achilles tendon suffered in practice the week of the Michigan game.
Evans has fully healed and returned to football activity.
Cignetti’s comments have at times also hinted at other minor injuries, like D’Angelo Ponds having to leave a preseason scrimmage for an undisclosed ailment. Ponds returned to practice in short order.
Never one to give much away in terms of personnel, Cignetti stayed as general as he could Monday.
Asked about the Hoosiers’ health during fall camp — and specifically whether Indiana stayed healthy enough to promote good competition across his roster, Cignetty acknowledged his team was not without interruptions.
But overall, he said, he liked the way IU navigated those absences, and where his roster stands heading into Week 1.
“During camp we did have some guys in and out defensively at times, and one offensive lineman missed a little time but is healthy now,” he said. “Overall, I’m pleased with where we’re at.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will Indiana football miss players due to injury in Week 1? Curt Cignetti ‘pleased with where we’re at’
Reporting by Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
