Any question as to whether Mario Pender will be available for Florida State’s next game has been answered, and not in the affirmative.
Head coach Jimbo Fisher revealed on his radio show last night that Pender underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a small hole in one of his lungs. Following a practice collision with a teammate last week, the running back was hospitalized with a collapsed lung. He was expected to be released from the hospital last Thursday, but hasn’t yet because of the combination of the hole in his lung as well as a related infection.
The original timeline for a return to the playing field was 10-12 days; given the surgery, that timeline is now open-ended.
“We thought he may be back in two weeks,” Fisher said on his show according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “It was a possibility, but now it is looking like an extended stay. But he is doing well.”
As Dalvin Cook‘s primary backup, Pender is second on the team with 140 yards and has the only rushing touchdown not scored by Cook. Freshman Jacques Patrick (three carries, 13 yards) is the only other halfback with a carry this season, while sophomore Johnathan Vickers is expected to pick up some o the reserve workload as well.
Coming off a bye weekend, FSU will continue ACC play Saturday on the road against Wake Forest.
