Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida coach Urban Meyer was anything but enamored with the way his team practiced on Wednesday, so he's bringing out the lock and key.
The Gators' practices on Thursday and Friday, originally scheduled to be open to the media, will be closed. Not that the Florida media members were continually jumping offside or going on the wrong count Wednesday, but Meyer just wanted to get away from any and all distractions these next two days.
Of course, weighing heavily on everybody's minds in and around the Florida complex right now is senior tight end Cornelius Ingram. Florida officials have yet to announce the results of the MRI he had performed on his left knee, but the fear is that he may be lost for the season or at least part of the season with a ligament tear.
All Meyer said following Wednesday's practice was that Ingram had a strained knee and that they'd know more after the MRI.
I plan to catch up with Meyer and a few of the players after practice tonight, and Meyer is expected to address Ingram's status then.
Losing him for any portion of the season would be a blow. He considered turning pro last season, but opted to return. He caught seven touchdown passes in 2007 and creates difficult matchups for the defense. Third down is where he really shines, and he's the kind of security blanket all quarterbacks would love to have.
The strange part about Ingram's injury is that he hurt his knee Tuesday during practice and walked off the field. But it apparently started to swell that night, and he missed practice on Wednesday.
It hasn't been a good run for the Gators on the injury front to start practice. Receiver Percy Harvin isn't doing much after undergoing heel surgery in the offseason, but that's more a case of the Gators not wanting to do too much too soon with their most dynamic playmaker. The most important thing with him is making sure he's healthy and ready to go on Aug. 30.
I'll say this for Harvin. He's bulked up to 200-plus pounds and looks like an NFL tailback. I'd say he'll get a few rushing attempts this season.
Redshirt freshman Chris Rainey has been limited by a groin injury he suffered running track in the spring, and true freshman defensive tackle Omar Hunter has been held out of contact work with a sore back. Meyer hopes Hunter will be able to get some contact on Friday.
Chris Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
