Mizzou football linebacker Chad Bailey still questionable ahead of Kansas State game
Chad Bailey might be getting closer to a return to the field, but his injury status remains the same.
Bailey, Mizzou football’s starting middle linebacker, for the second straight week, was listed as questionable on the Tigers’ injury report released Thursday night ahead of the Tigers’ marquee nonconference matchup Saturday against Kansas State in Columbia. He missed the first two games of the season with an injury.
Elsewhere on the injury report, wide receiver Mekhi Miller and Daniel Blood also were listed as questionable for the game against the Wildcats, while running back Michael Cox, wide receiver Peanut Houston and cornerback Shamar McNeil, all backups, are listed as out. Backup center Bence Polgar is available for the first time this season.
Bailey dressed for Saturday’s game, but MU coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday that was a return to routine rather than an indication of availability. Bailey was voted as a team captain by his teammates during fall camp.
After undergoing an undisclosed procedure ahead of Missouri’s season opener, Bailey was originally given a 21-day diagnosis to return to action — a time period that ends Friday.
“He’ll be a full participant in practice (Tuesday), and we'll just see where he's at as we continue to build,” Drinkwitz said Tuesday. “I mean, technically, it's supposed to be a 21-day (absence). We're a little bit ahead of that. And maybe we're being a little bit too optimistic, but he feels good and he's gonna go out there and test it out (Tuesday). And we'll never put our players in jeopardy. But if he's ready, we'll see if he can give us a couple of series.
Chuck Hicks and Dameon Wilson have split the majority of reps at middle linebacker in Bailey’s absence.
Miller, the only other player with regular playing time on the injury report, has four receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown, primarily serving as Luther Burden III’s backup at the slot. He picked up an injury in the first half of the game against Middle Tennessee State last Saturday and missed the remainder of the game.
Starting running back Cody Schrader, starting star safety Daylan Carnell and depth tight end Brett Norfleet were in no-contact jerseys during Missouri’s period of practice open to the media Tuesday, but all three have avoided the injury report.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Mizzou linebacker Chad Bailey still questionable ahead of K-State game
