Hugh Freeze updates Auburn's injury concerns ahead of Week 1

The first game of the Hugh Freeze era kicks off this week, as Auburn squares off with Massachusetts at home this Saturday to start the 2023 season. The Tigers kept some talent and added some new faces this offseason, and with game day just a few days away, Freeze updated the media about the injury status of his roster.

“Right now I’d say J.D. Rhym‘s questionable, Nick Mardner, Jalen McLeod. Nehemiah Pritchett I think will go. Robby Ashford‘s dealing with an oblique strain but I think he’ll go too,” Freeze said on Monday.

Payton Thorne won Auburn’s starting quarterback job after transferring in from Michigan State this offseason, but having Ashford healthy for Week 1 is still crucial for the Tigers.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound dual-threat quarterback started nine games for the Tigers last season, getting it done with his arm and legs with 1,613 yards in the air and 710 on the ground along with seven rushing and passing scores apiece. The Tigers could potentially have some run game-centric packages with Ashford at quarterback in their playbook, and as heavy favorites against UMass, Ashford could receive some crucial late-game snaps in a new offensive scheme.

Pritchett would be a big loss to Auburn’s secondary after starting two consecutive seasons at cornerback for the Tigers and serving as their primary kick returner. He tied a team lead with eight passes defended last season, and could miss action in the secondary for Week 1 along with Rhym who has been competing for playing time in the defensive backfield this offseason.

Mardner and McLeod would be missing out on their Auburn debuts if they were out for Week 1, transferring from Cincinnati and Appalachian State this offseason along with 19 other new transfer portal additions. But Freeze is confident that his Week 1 roster will look relatively healthy for their opener.

“It wouldn’t shock me if all of those went truthfully, but it wouldn’t really shock me if a few didn’t make it either. But our list is pretty short and hopefully all of them will make progress this week and be able to go,” Freeze said.

Freeze will be looking to start is tenure with the Tigers off on the right foot this Saturday, and hopefully he does so with a healthy team, as Auburn faces UMass at home at 3:30 p.m. ET in a game airing on ESPN.