Illness and injury significantly thins ranks of the Kentucky football team

Illness and injury has significantly thinned the ranks of the Kentucky football team.

After avoiding the illness for most of the season, the flu bug has finally bitten hard. Linebacker Micah Johnson, offensive guard Christian Johnson, tailback Alfonso Smith, defensive end Patrick Ligon, offensive tackle Dave Ulinski, linebacker Jacob Dufrene and linebacker Ridge Wilson all missed practice Tuesday because of illness.

In addition to illness, Injuries  sidelined tailback Derrick Locke (both knees), wide receiver Gene McCaskill (ankle), fullback John Conner (shin), safety Matt Lentz (toe)  for  some or all of Tuesday's workout. Coach Brooks said that Locke remains doubtful to play on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky.

The only bright spot was the fact that All-America cornerback Trevard Lindley returned to practice for the first time since his high-ankle sprain on Oct. 3. Lindley is not 100 percent, but was able to go through most of the drills at practice.

“You just have to have other people step up and fill those spots,” Brooks said of trying to prepare for Eastern Kentucky. “The question you don't know is who or when they'll be back and who else is going to be down with them. It's just one of those things you have to deal with.”

The Wildcats host the Colonels on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live on WKYT in Lexington, WYMT in Hazard and on ESPN360.com. It also will be a delayed telecast on the Big Blue Sports Network.