Pettway out; Kerryon will 'want to play'

AUBURN | There’s concern at the running back position as No. 7 Auburn prepares to begin bowl practice.

Kamryn Pettway is out while Kerryon Johnson’s status for the bowl game is unresolved. Johnson injured his shoulder and ribs against Alabama Nov. 25 and managed just 44 yards on 13 carries in a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

Three weeks earlier against that same Bulldog defense, Johnson had 167 yards on 32 carries in Auburn’s 40-17 win.

“I know he’ll want to play. He’s a great competitor,” said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn on Johnson. “All of our guys will want to play. Our guys play for each other. So we’ll see where that goes. I’ll have a better idea once we get out to practice and move around and everything that goes with that.”

According to Malzahn, Pettway fractured his scapula against Arkansas Oct. 21 and missed the final four games of the regular season and the SEC Championship game.

Malzahn said he’s discussed Pettway’s future with the junior a couple of times but no decision has been made on whether he will return next season or declare for the 2018 NFL Draft.

“I'll get with him, and we'll cross that bridge at the appropriate time,” Malzahn said.

Malzahn said he’ll have a better indication on Johnson and any other players that are injured once bowl practice begins Friday. Malzahn said the Tigers will practice six times in Auburn before breaking for Christmas with the first three to four workouts focused on fundamentals and the young players.

“I think guys are healing up,” Malzahn said. “We've not practiced yet. We will this Friday. We'll know a little bit more. But the guys are healing up, obviously it was a very physical end of the year that we had. Our guys are working on their finals and really trying to heal up right now.”

Auburn will conclude the season Jan. 1 against No. 12 UCF in the Peach Bowl. Kickoff in Mercedes-Benz Stadium is 11:30 a.m. CT.