Though the details of the incident are a bit sketchy, it appears Illinois defensive end Michael Buchanan is the latest player to sustain an offseason injury -- though the injury itself is much less severe when it comes to playing time this fall.
Coach Tim Beckman confirmed on Wednesday that Buchanan is recovering from a broken jaw he suffered over the weekend. Though Beckman would not comment on any specific details, a school spokesperson told ESPN.com that Buchanan was involved in an altercation.
“It was just a mishap,” Beckman said. “He’ll get himself ready and he’ll get himself right... He’s a little distraught by it. Of course, nobody wants to break their jaw.”
Buchanan’s jaw has been wired shut, so his menu for the foreseeable future will consist of food through a straw. That said, it doesn’t sound like Buchanan will miss much, if any, playing time this fall.
Buchanan finished fifth on the team last year with 64 total tackles, 13.5 TFL and a forced fumble.