07-20-2002, 05:53 PM
per ESPN.com.....
Lee Evans, the Big Ten's leading receiver last year, will likely miss the first five games of Wisconsin's season while trying to rehabilitate a knee injury he suffered in spring practice.
Evans said Wednesday he was happy with his progress after tearing ligaments in his left knee in April and would like to be back by the Aug. 23 season opener against Fresno State in the John Thompson Foundation Football Classic.
But he said a more realistic goal is the Badgers' first Big Ten game Oct. 5 against Penn State, meaning he would miss almost half the regular season.
Being ready for that game would mean a return to football less than five months after having surgery in May for an injury that often takes 6-to-8 months of rehabilitation.
''I have a competitive attitude that if someone can do it, then I should be able to do it, too,'' he said.
Evans said he has been doing exercises to regain his strength and flexibility and he's begun jogging, but does not have a full range of motion yet.
''I can do pretty much everything except run a full sprint,'' he said.
The injury came just three months after Evans announced he would stay at Wisconsin for his senior season rather than turn pro.
He was one of three finalists for the national Biletnikoff Award for receivers after catching 75 passes for a conference-record 1,545 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Evans said he has not considered sitting out this season if his rehabilitation does not progress as he hopes. He said doctors took one-third of the patella tendon in his right knee to help repair the ACL in his left knee.
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said doctors will play a role in determining when Evans is physically ready to play, including monitoring how much strength has returned to the injured knee.
''When he's ready to go he'll be on the field, and we'll feature him,'' Alvarez said.
Lee Evans, the Big Ten's leading receiver last year, will likely miss the first five games of Wisconsin's season while trying to rehabilitate a knee injury he suffered in spring practice.
Evans said Wednesday he was happy with his progress after tearing ligaments in his left knee in April and would like to be back by the Aug. 23 season opener against Fresno State in the John Thompson Foundation Football Classic.
But he said a more realistic goal is the Badgers' first Big Ten game Oct. 5 against Penn State, meaning he would miss almost half the regular season.
Being ready for that game would mean a return to football less than five months after having surgery in May for an injury that often takes 6-to-8 months of rehabilitation.
''I have a competitive attitude that if someone can do it, then I should be able to do it, too,'' he said.
Evans said he has been doing exercises to regain his strength and flexibility and he's begun jogging, but does not have a full range of motion yet.
''I can do pretty much everything except run a full sprint,'' he said.
The injury came just three months after Evans announced he would stay at Wisconsin for his senior season rather than turn pro.
He was one of three finalists for the national Biletnikoff Award for receivers after catching 75 passes for a conference-record 1,545 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Evans said he has not considered sitting out this season if his rehabilitation does not progress as he hopes. He said doctors took one-third of the patella tendon in his right knee to help repair the ACL in his left knee.
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said doctors will play a role in determining when Evans is physically ready to play, including monitoring how much strength has returned to the injured knee.
''When he's ready to go he'll be on the field, and we'll feature him,'' Alvarez said.