The first four periods of Liberty’s two-hour practice on Tuesday morning every week during the season is open to the media. Liberty is scheduled to play against BYU in the biggest home game in school history on Saturday afternoon, and here are a few of the main takeaways from the open portion of practice:

  • Liberty typically splits the offense and the defense on the adjacent fields next to Williams Stadium with the offense primarily working inside the Indoor Practice Facility and the defense primarily working on the outside practice field. With temperatures dipping into the 30s overnight in Lynchburg, the Flames moved both the offense and the defense to the indoor facility for the majority of the practice.
  • QB Charlie Brewer, who returned to practice last week for the first time since breaking his right hand in the season opener at Southern Miss, was back on the practice field again this morning. Unlike last week, Brewer was able to put some zip on his passes as he recovers from having surgery and pins removed from his right throwing hand just below his thumb. Brewer was getting the reps with the first team during open practice and even attempted some down field passes as deep as 40-50 yards. Based on this trajectory, I fully expect Brewer to be able to start Saturday against BYU. Of course, things could change throughout the week, but unless there is a setback I think he makes his second start at Liberty.
  • QB Kaidon Salter was not at practice during the first four periods. He has not been at practice the past few weeks following re-aggravating his groin injury in the game at Old Dominion. Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze subsequently stated that Salter needed surgery which he had just prior to the UMass game. The redshirt-freshman quarterback has not been on the sidelines for the last two games as he recovers. He certainly will miss another game this Saturday against BYU, but hopefully he is able to return following the bye week.
  • Johnathan Bennett, Nate Hampton, and Sean Brown were the other quarterbacks at practice Tuesday morning. Bennett got the majority of the second team reps for the open period, with Hampton also being rotated in occasionally.
  • WR Caleb Snead was back at practice for the first time since early in the season as he has missed the past several games with a right foot injury. No brace was located on his lower leg and looks like he is currently on track to play Saturday against BYU.
  • WR Jaivian Lofton was injured in last week’s game against Gardner-Webb having his foot placed in a boot following the game. Lofton was back on the practice field Tuesday morning and did not appear to be limited at all.
  • Head coach Hugh Freeze mentioned on Monday that WR CJ Yarbrough was going through the concussion protocol this week after being injured against Gardner-Webb. He was not at practice Tuesday.
  • WR CJ Daniels, who will redshirt this season but can play in up to 4 games, was on the practice field and getting a lot of reps with the first string offense. With Snead, Lofton, and Yarbrough fighting through injuries, it would make sense if Daniels plays this week against the Cougars. Daniels has only played in two games this season and can play in two more and still maintain his redshirt. He is fighting back from a torn ACL suffered in early March.