STARKVILLE — Mississippi State junior cornerback Corey Broomfield has been playing with a broken thumb for the past three weeks.
MSU cornerbacks coach Melvin Smith confirmed Monday that Broomfield suffered the injury Sept. 10 in a 41-34 loss at Auburn University, and that Broomfield has been playing with a large cast on his right hand since that time.
When asked about the cast in the week leading up to the home opener against LSU, Broomfield said his thumb was badly sprained.
Broomfield had been starting and playing significant minutes, but the junior was taken out of the lineup late in the first half Saturday against the University of Georgia and replaced with junior college transfer Darius Slay.
“Broomfield has the cast and Slay’s played pretty well and taken some steps forward,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said.
Sophomore backup quarterback Tyler Russell is the only other player battling a serious injury. Russell has been wearing a large black brace on his injured left knee, but Mullen said Russell was medically cleared to participate in the Louisiana Tech and Georgia games.
“I wouldn’t say (Russell) was 100 percent, but he was clear to play,”
Mullen said. “Part of it is Favre has been getting ready to be in the backup role the last two weeks. (Russell) was real good last night, and we expect him to be back at close to 100 percent this week.”
Sherrod makes NFL debut Sunday
Rookie left tackle Derek Sherrod the Packers’ first-round draft pick, made his pro debut Sunday, taking over for Chad Clifton for one snap when the veteran limped off for a play in the fourth quarter after getting kicked in the shin.
Sherrod also played left tackle for Green Bay’s final two series when Matt Flynn took over at quarterback.
The rookie offensive lineman was inactive the first three weeks of the season after being given an opportunity to start at left guard. Second-year lineman T.J. Lang beat him out for that position. The Packers used the 323nd pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft to select Sherrod. He hasn’t been on the active roster due to Green Bay’s depth on the offensive line.
Sherrod is battling second-year player Marshall Newhouse for the starting position open due to sprained and bruised knee starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga suffered two weeks ago. Newhouse started Sunday in a 49-23 home victory against the Denver Broncos that moved the defending Super Bowl champions to 4-0 during the 2011 season.
“I think it’s convenient criticism, questioning when you go after your
first-round pick,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “I’m very pleased with Derek, where his progress is. Marshall’s a little bit ahead of Derek in the experience category, and that’s why Marshall has this opportunity, so you’ve got two young tackles we’re excited about.”
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