University of Kentucky right guard Jess Beets is questionable for Saturday’s game against South Carolina with a bruised knee. Beets, who has started all five games, did not practice on Tuesday, but UK Coach Rich Brooks hopes he can return to practice on Wednesday. Beets’ backup, redshirt freshman Stuart Hines, is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a cartilage tear in his knee.

University of Kentucky offensive linemen Jess Beets and Stuart Hines, who have been splitting time at right guard, are scheduled to undergo MRI’s on Monday to address possible cartilage issues. UK Coach Rich Brooks also announced that sophomore Brad Durham would replace Billy Joe Murphy at right tackle for Saturday’s game with South Carolina. Murphy started the Alabama game in place of Justin Jeffries, who’s out with a knee injury.

UK coach Rich Brooks said on Wednesday that linebacker Micah Johnson, quarterback/ wide receiver Randall Cobb and defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin will all make the trip for Saturday’s game at Alabama. The three players have been sidelined since the Middle Tennessee game with high ankle sprains. Brooks said that Lumpkin’s injury has progressed the most, and the three players made it through Tuesday and Wednesday’s practice without any major setbacks and could see action in the game.

If Cobb does play, Brooks said it would be as a backup quarterback to Mike Hartline, as his ankle isn’t yet strong enough to make the necessary cuts to play wide receiver.

Middle linebacker Micah Johnson, quarterback/wide receiver Randall Cobb, and defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin participated in some drills yesterday but are still listed as doubtful for the Alabama game. All three players suffered high ankle sprains the Middle Tennessee game. Brooks said he’ll monitor the players’ progress in practice the rest of the week before making a final determination.

“They worked out,” Brooks said.  “We’ll see how they respond tomorrow, see if it gets real sore or not.  None of them are close to 100 percent.  It’s not even in that ballpark.  Whether they can be functional or not is the question.”

UK coach Rich Brooks said on Sunday that starting right tackle Justin Jeffries is out indefinitely with an MCL sprain suffered in Saturday’s 41-3 win over Western Kentucky. UK Coach Rich Brooks said that redshirt freshman Billy Joe Murphy and sophomore Brad Durham will both see time at right tackle in Saturday’s game at No. 2 Alabama. Murphy started at left tackle earlier this season while starter Garry Williams was out with a knee injury.

Also, Brooks said listed Micah Johnson, Randall Cobb and Ricky Lumpkin, who suffered high ankle sprains two weeks ago against Middle Tennessee, as doubtful for Alabama.

Brooks did say that each player will be evaluated again later this week. Cobb’s injury was originally believed to be the most severe, but Brooks said Johnson’s ankle is probably in the worst shape of the three.

Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said today that quarterback Randall Cobb, linebacker Micah Johnson and defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin all remain out for “the foreseeable future,” with high ankle sprains. Brooks said that Cobb, who had been serving as UK’s backup QB behind Mike Hartline, was in the worst shape of the trio and would sidelined the longest. The Cats have an open date this week before hosting Western Kentucky on Sept. 27.

UK coach Rich Brooks said on Sunday that middle linebacker Micah Johnson, quarterback Randall Cobb and defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin are out indefinitely with high ankle sprains. Brooks said that the UK medical staff should know more about the severity of the injuries on Monday but said all three players were doubtful for Kentucky’s game with Western Kentucky on Sept. 27. The Wildcats have an open date this week.

Brooks said the time frame for high ankle sprains can be anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 4-6 weeks depending on the severity of the sprain.

Cobb, UK’s backup quarterback, hurt the ankle early in the game while playing wide receiver. Johnson had nine tackles and two tackles for loss before going down in the second quarter.

“He was all over the field,” Brooks said. “It was his best game by far since he’s been here. His reads were great, he was physical at the point of attack. He was a dominant force on the inside.

Brooks said that Will Fidler will work as the No. 2 quarterback behind Mike Hartline in Cobb’s absence. Linebacker Braxton Kelley will slide over to middle linebacker to replace Johnson. Kelley was a three-year starter at middle linebacker before moving to the weak side this year to get Johnson in the lineup.

Senior left tackle Garry Williams, Kentucky’s most experienced offensive lineman, is “questionable to doubtful” for the Norfolk State game, Coach Rich Brooks announced after Wednesday morning’s practice.

Williams has been having swelling in his knee and Brooks said the lineman will have an MRI evaluation.  Brooks said that redshirt freshman Billy Joe Murphy or junior James Alexander would get the starting nod if Williams is unavailable.