Auburn Football quarterback Payton Thorne faced a setback in his preparation for the Music City Bowl, missing nearly all on-campus practices due to a bout of the flu. Thorne revealed this while addressing reporters in Nashville on Wednesday, just before the team’s crucial clash.
Thorne’s Flu Episode Disrupts Practice Routine
The quarterback’s absence during most Music City Bowl practices on campus was attributed to flu symptoms, disrupting the team’s routine in the lead-up to the game against Maryland. Thorne’s limited participation became evident when Auburn arrived in Nashville on Tuesday, with his first on-site practice taking place at Vanderbilt’s field.
Thorne’s Positive Outlook for the Music City Bowl
Despite the setback, Payton Thorne expressed optimism about his condition for the Music City Bowl scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Thorne joined the practice on Wednesday, making a return to the field after being absent during a media viewing window last week.
Head coach Hugh Freeze acknowledged the team’s health challenges, referring to a “run of sickness” affecting several players. Freeze revealed that two players were left at the hotel on the day he spoke to reporters in Nashville. The team had experienced a wave of flu-like symptoms during the previous week, impacting players’ availability for practice.
“Yeah, we’ve had a run of sickness,” Freeze explained. “We actually left two guys at the hotel today, too. We had a run, last week, of guys missing practice with flu-like symptoms.”
Despite the disruption, Thorne’s return to practice in Nashville was a positive sign for the team. Coach Freeze expressed hope that the quarterback’s health would improve with outdoor sessions, emphasizing the importance of these practice days leading up to the Music City Bowl.
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“He seems to be feeling good, but it’s really good to let him get outside and hopefully get him today and tomorrow,” Freeze stated. “This is a good day for him to have a good practice, for sure, because he did miss — shoot — last week, I think every day but one.”
While Thorne’s situation was highlighted, Coach Freeze did not provide details about other players still grappling with sickness or specify the extent of their impact on the team’s preparation.
In conclusion, Auburn faces health challenges as they gear up for the Music City Bowl, with Payton Thorne’s flu episode being a significant factor. The team remains hopeful that key players will recover in time for the crucial clash against Maryland.
