Zac Etheridge done for season

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Safety Zac Etheridge’s season is over and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play football again.

“In just talking with the doctors it appears he is out for the season,“ coach Gene Chizik said in his Sunday meeting with reporters. “That being said we’re very hopeful for a full recovery just talking with our medical people.“

Chizik didn’t feel comfortable going into any further details about Etheridge’s status. A photo on Etheridge’s Facebook profile page shows him laying in a hospital bed with a large neck brace, smiling with two people who appear to be his parents.

Asked if Etheridge could play football again, Chizik said “I don’t know where that goes. We’re talking about full recovery as a person.“

Attempting to make a hit on Ole Miss’ Rodney Scott in the first quarter of Saturday’s game, Etheridge went helmet-to-helmet with Antonio Coleman. The collision jarred Etheridge’s neck and rendered him motionless on top of Scott.

Scott lay below Etheridge as Auburn’s trainers attended to him and Auburn players huddled in a circle to pray. After seven or so minutes, Etheridge, who had movement in his extremities, Auburn officials said, was wheeled off the field and taken to a local hospital for further examinations on his neck.

Chizik said the team is in the process of planning to visit Etheridge.

The quest to replace Etheridge starts at today’s practice.

“He’s a team leader and he’s loved by all the guys on this football team and that’s because he loves football and he loves Auburn,“ Chizik said. “Everybody on our team knows it. Without question, he’s one of the leaders of our football team. It’s going to be tough.“

(Photo credit: Cliff Williams)