MRI On MU's Hoch Yields Favorable Results

The Missouri Tigers have received some good news regarding right tackle Dan Hoch.

Team trainer Rex Sharp confirmed to the Columbia Daily Tribune after practice Wednesday morning that the injury Hoch sustained to his left knee yesterday is a sprain of the medial collateral ligament.

A sprained MCL is an injury Sharp referred to as "very treatable." The team anticipates Hoch will miss no more than two weeks of practice, meaning he should be ready to go by the time the Sept. 5 season opener rolls around.

"That's good news," head coach Gary Pinkel said. "He will hopefully be ready for the Illinois game. That's what we're counting on right now."

As expected, right guard Kurtis Gregory has moved over to tackle in place of Hoch, giving backup guard J.T. Beasley the opportunity to practice with the first-team offense. Under this scenario, Jack Meiners, a heralded true freshman from St. Louis, will be left to take reps with the No. 2 unit.

There was speculation Tuesday the coaching staff would promote Meiners to step in for Hoch, but Pinkel expressed concern over placing such an inexperienced player into a role that carries a dangerous amount of responsibility.

Hoch, a 6'7", 320 pound sophomore from Harlan, Iowa, who is expected to start at right tackle this season, left the field midway through practice Tuesday after spraining his knee. He was later placed in a brace and given a no-contact jersey for the remainder of practice. He later underwent the MRI that revealed no major structural damage to the knee.

• In other injury news, an MRI performed on the knee of wide receiver Brandon Gerau revealed only a bruise. Gerau, who had to be carried off the field after landing oddly during a passing drill on Tuesday, is expected to miss around a week of action.
• Tight end Andrew Jones, one of the more pivotal pieces of the Tigers' offense this season, returned to practice Wednesday. Jones left Tuesday's practice early after bruising his hip pointer.
• Pinkel told reporters defensive tackle Marvin Foster underwent season-ending knee surgery on Monday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last week. Foster, a true freshman from Fort Worth, Texas, may return to the field in time for postseason practices in December.

Photo courtesy of Connect MidMissouri.com