QB Nantkes returns to practice field

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 | 9:26 a.m.

After missing three days of practice with a strained back, starting quarterback Kurt Nantkes finally made it back out onto the field briefly during Thursday night's practice at Rebel Park.

Nantkes didn't wear full gear and didn't take part in any team drills. Still, after spending part of the day with a chiropractor he said his sore back was feeling much better.

"He fixed me up just right," Nantkes said with a smile. "It's loosened up. The coaches just don't want to rush me back too quickly. Unless it stiffens up, I'll try and go (today)."

Nantkes has participated in only six of the Rebels' 12 practices so far. He also missed one practice with the stomach flu.

"I've only thrown in pads once or twice," he said. "(Tonight) I just wanted to put on some pads and get out here and throw and get used to it again."

The good news for Marshall is that is nose is fine. UNLV fan site Rebel-Net put up a report that Marshall had his nose broken during a locker room fight with fellow running back JaJa Riley, a transfer from Ohio State who is redshirting this year.

Marshall confirmed the two did have an altercation but that his nose was only scratched and not broken.

"We got into a little conflict," Marshall said. "I don't know what it said on the Internet but I didn't get a broken nose at all. I heard about that report earlier today but it sounded mostly made up. It was a little confrontation between players. We squashed it. We cool. We've got no problem with each other. It was just a little misunderstanding between two players. That's all."

Marshall, who showed no visible bruises on his face, said he hopes to return practice tonight.

"He did very well on it," Rebels trainer Kyle Wilson said. "They need to do one more test on him. If that looks good they plan on releasing him. If something shows up, they'll continue to do some tests with that."

Lawless was originally supposed to spend just one night in the hospital for observation for what was believed to be a mild concussion. However, Thursday marked his fourth night in the hospital.

"They just want to cover all the bases," Wilson said.

"He did some (walking in the) pool. He did some cardio. He did some light, straight-ahead jogging activities," Wilson said. "He's following a little progression that we have ... easy drills that will get harder and harder. We're taking our time with him. We're just using pain and swelling as our guide."