Claridge, Nantkes miss practice

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.

UNLV linebacker Ryan Claridge can't seem to get a break these days when it comes to injuries.

A 6-foot-3, 238-pound junior linebacker who missed the entire 2002 season because of a torn abdominal muscle, Claridge watched Monday night's practice with his left foot in a cast after injuring it during a non-contact drill in the morning.

The initial diagnosis following X-rays was that Claridge, an all-Mountain West Conference performer in 2001, had broken the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones in his left foot and that he would be out 6-8 weeks. But Claridge and Rebels trainer Kyle Wilson said a CT-Scan taken later in the day seemed to indicate that the injury was an older one and may sideline him only two weeks.

Still, Claridge will have his foot in a cast for at least a week before beginning rehabilitation exercises. Both he and Wilson believe he has a good chance to play in UNLV's Aug. 29 opener against Toledo at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"I just stepped on somebody's foot and rolled it a little bit," Claridge said. "It was a fluke. The positive thing is I think it is just a little bump in the road. I don't think it's serious. I'll know more (today)."

Claridge finished the morning workout but was told to get X-rays on the foot when a trainer noticed it was swollen while applying ice to the injury.

"I'm going to get this cast cut off in a week and then I'll see where I'm at," he said. "I'll try and run next week and then prepare for Toledo. Originally they told be I'd be out six to eight weeks but I'm not going to let that go into my head because it's a negative thought."

Claridge wasn't the only one watching Monday night's practice from the sidelines.

Starting quarterback Kurt Nantkes spent most of the day in the trainers' room with back spasms suffered late in Sunday night's practice. He hopes to be back on the field by Wednesday.

The scariest injury of the day occurred in the morning practice when backup defensive tackle Steve Lawless was taken off the field by ambulance following a collison.

"It was a combination of a head injury and the heat," Wilson said. "We wanted to be on the safe side and a little precautionary so we took him to the hospital and ran some tests. "He was just a little dizzy and lightheaded. It was hard to tell if it was a heat- related or a head-related injury."