Neck injury will sideline Etheridge

AUBURN - Zac Etheridge's season is likely over a day after he suffered a neck injury from colliding with a teammate, Auburn coach Gene Chizik said Sunday.

Chizik said he is "very hopeful" for the junior safety's full recovery from the neck injury Etheridge suffered Saturday.

Chizik didn't shoot down talk that Etheridge's football-playing career could also be over.

"I don't know where that goes," Chizik said. "We're talking about full recovery as a person."

Chizik said he did not feel comfortable going into further detail on Etheridge's injury.

Etheridge suffered the injury when his head collided with defensive end Antonio Coleman's shoulder.

Etheridge lay motionless on the field for several minutes before medical personnel immobilized him. He was carted off the field, but gave a thumbs-up sign to the crowd on his way to the locker room.

An injury update later in the game said he was being taken to a local hospital for examinations on his neck. The same report said Etheridge had movement in all his extremities.

A picture on Etheridge's Facebook page showed him wearing a neck brace in a hospital bed.

Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof said that was the worst injury he has seen throughout his 22-year career.

"You hope and pray for the kid because he's such a great kid, somebody's son and how it affects all the kids sitting there and watching it," Roof said. "It's awful. You hate to see that. At the same time you just hope and pray that things work out and gains full whatever. You just worry about him and worry about his family, you think about the kids on our sidelines, how are they going to respond to what's going on and I thought our guys responded to the situation about as well as they could."

Etheridge had established himself as a leader on Auburn's defense and though his leadership will be tough to replace, his production probably will be as well.

He finished last year with a team-high 75 tackles. In 2007, he finished second on the team with 65 tackles. Through Saturday's game, Etheridge ranked fourth among Auburn defenders with 52 tackles.

Sophomore Mike Slade replaced Etheridge on Saturday and recorded three tackles in a little more than three quarters of play.

"Mike filled in adequately but I think the whole level of our defense stepped it up a notch," Chizik said.

Etheridge's injury is another significant blow for a defense that can ill afford any more. The Tigers are already without projected starter Mike McNeil, who has been out since breaking his leg during a spring scrimmage. Chizik said he does not anticipate McNeil coming back as a starter right now.

Senior Aairon Savage, who started two years ago as a sophomore, has also missed the entire season with a torn Achilles.

Sophomore reserve Drew Cole has missed the last seven games with an undisclosed leg injury.

That leaves true freshman free safety Daren Bates as Auburn's most experienced safety.

Slade and redshirt freshman T'Sharvan Bell are the only other healthy safeties on Auburn's roster. D'Antoine Hood has also worked at safety, but has since moved back to cornerback.

Chizik was evasive when asked about his plan to replace Etheridge.

"It's rather slim but we will get creative to make sure that we put the best guys out there that gives us the best chance to win," Chizik said. "We've got to work through some things in the next couple of days to figure out what that is. It might be Mike. It might be a guy moving over. We don't know. We'll explore all the options."