Championship Subdivision Football | FCS Football | Stadiums | Blogs | Forums

HARRISONBURG - Quarterback Justin Thorpe, a talented redshirt freshman who has been battling Drew Dudzik for the starting job at James Madison University, injured his right shoulder throwing a pass during Wednesday afternoon's football practice at Bridgeforth Stadium.

JMU coach Mickey Matthews said Thorpe will go to the University of Virginia Medical Center today for a "precautionary" MRI.

"We think it's fine," Matthews said. "It's a little stiff."

Sophomore defensive tackle Max Alexandre ran into Thorpe as the quarterback - who was wearing a red jersey, which is designed to ward off contact from teammates - stepped up to throw a pass. He collapsed to the ground, then walked to the sideline with a trainer while Matthews erupted in a tirade against Alexandre, screaming, "Don't do it. Don't ever do it."

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Thorpe did not return to practice and Dudzik - the more experienced of the two QB candidates - took the rest of the snaps with the first-team offense.

Thorpe came out of the locker room after practice and threw a number of long passes to cornerback Taveion Cuffee, but he was clearly in discomfort. Thorpe declined a request for an interview as he walked back into the locker room, saying only, "I'm going to get X-rays."

Justin Thorpe was back in his pads and red jersey, and on the turf Friday at James Madison.

Thorpe's status had been in question after he left Wednesday's scrimmage with a shoulder injury.

Coach Mickey Matthews said Friday that Thorpe, a redshirt freshman competing with junior Drew Dudzik for JMU's starting quarterback position, had suffered a "tiny, tiny tear" in his throwing shoulder.

HARRISONBURG - James Madison redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe returned to football practice Friday, two days after injuring his right shoulder.

Thorpe did not throw any passes Friday, though that was "just a precaution," JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. Matthews said an MRI of Thorpe's shoulder revealed a "tiny tear in the labrum." Matthews said the injury should not affect Thorpe during the season.

"The medical people tell me there is a tiny tear in labrum," Matthews said. "If they did an MRI on everyone on the team, everyone would have several tiny tears. It's something minimal. It shouldn't be a problem this year."

Thorpe left Bridgeforth Stadium without talking to the media.

JMU DJ wrote:http://www.dailynews-record.com/sports_ ... 200&CHID=3

I'm assuming it's a SLAP tear... hopefully it is minor and can heal on its own. But if they keep playing him, it could get worse, especially if he's hit while throwing again.