Ekwerekwu returns to action for Tigers

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri wide receiver Brad Ekwerekwu is back on the practice field, six weeks after an emergency appendectomy.

"I'm too anxious to stand around anymore," Ekwerekwu said. "I'm trying to get out there and get more involved. It got boring."

Last month, the senior from Texas felt a sharp pain in his right side after returning home from church. He tried to sleep that night, but when the pain was present in the morning, he went to the hospital.

Ekwerekwu said his appendix didn't burst, but "we were racing against that."

When the Tigers opened preseason camp on Aug. 5, the team's most experienced receiver wore a solid red jersey, meaning he was not to participate in any drills.

He wasn't sure when he'd be ready to return.

"They told me regular recovery time for average Joe Citizen is six to eight weeks, and this is the sixth week," he said. His first practice was Sunday.

Ekwerekwu, who caught 32 passes for 282 yards last season, said the side is still a little sore.

Still, he's happy to be back.

Coach Gary Pinkel is happy he's back, too, considering how inexperienced the rest of the receivers are. Junior Will Franklin joins Ekwerekwu as the only two wide receivers on the roster to have caught more than 45 career passes.

"He just needs more work," Pinkel said of Ekwerekwu. "From a cardio standpoint, he's behind."

Receivers coach Andy Hill said Ekwerekwu played a vital role in the first two weeks of practice, even if he wasn't participating. Hill said Ekwerekwu helped the younger receivers learn routes and learn other aspects of the position -- something Ekwerekwu said was part of his duties as a team captain.

"That's the advantage of Ek having experience. He can go out there and actually be a coach on the field," Hill said. "Thomson Omboga has done it, Sean Coffey has done it, now it's Ek's turn."

Quarterback Chase Daniel said he's glad to have Ekwerekwu back.

"It was tough not having him out there because he's a leader," Daniel said. "Our offense did a good job without him but there was definitely a hole."