Josh Paschal returns to practice ahead of Citrus Bowl

After sitting out the team’s first two bowl practices down in Orlando, Kentucky senior standout Josh Paschal officially returned to the field on Wednesday.

Paschal, a 6-3, 278-pound defensive end out of Prince George’s County, Md., suffered a leg injury in the third quarter of Kentucky’s win over Louisville. It was an ailment Mark Stoops later described as “a little more serious” than some of the other issues he’s dealt with this season.

Now, though, it appears Paschal is trending toward being available for Kentucky’s matchup against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.

👀 pic.twitter.com/mVtrtsW3Y2

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 29, 2021

LEX18’s Keith Farmer reports Paschal is “still a game-time decision” for the game, but certainly a step in the right direction.

Good to see @JPaschalx going through workouts. He’s still a game time decision for the @CitrusBowl but looks good out here. #BBN pic.twitter.com/YblBydzQ47

— Keith Farmer (@KeithFarmer18) December 29, 2021

Stoops previously said Paschal wanted to practice and play, but the team would do whatever it took to protect the senior playmaker.

“I know Josh, he wants to play, he wants to practice, but we have to protect him,” Stoops said on Nov. 30. “We’ll keep a very close eye on him. You know, he definitely has an injury.”

Paschal finished the regular season with career-highs in total tackles (52), solo tackles (24) and sacks (5). He’s now racked up 137 tackles (72 solo), 13 sacks and three forced fumbles in five years as a Wildcat.

Paschal was the lone absentee in practice on Monday and Tuesday, with everyone else available and accounted for. Even Kentucky’s players who entered the transfer portal in recent weeks are in attendance at practice.

UK’s final piece to the puzzle is back on the practice field. Will he be ready in time for kickoff in three days?