Syracuse offensive tackle Justin Pugh will not participate in the team’s training camp as he recovers from an upper-body injury, head coach Doug Marrone told Brent Axe on Monday on his radio show on The Score 1260.

Pugh will likely be unavailable until late September, Marrone said, meaning he could miss multiple games as well.

“No, he’s not going to be able to practice off the bat,” Marrone told Axe. “His recovery is going well. He won’t participate at all in the preseason.

“We hope to get him back sometime within the first month of the season, probably the latter part of the month of September.”

Pugh, who is a senior, suffered the injury during spring practice. He did not play in the Orange’s spring game on April 21.

Pugh was an All-Big East first team selection last year and is critical to SU’s offensive line. Syracuse lost the right side of its offensive line with the departure of seniors Andrew Tiller and Michael Hay. The line has blocked for two 1,000-yard rushers in the last two seasons in Delone Carter and Antwon Bailey.

Marrone said Monday the team does not have an “actual” date for Pugh’s return. It depends on the progress of his rehabilitation, though he said it has gone well to this point.

“We’ll miss him during the preseason and we’ll miss him at the start of the season,” Marrone said.

Pugh is one of four Syracuse players attending Big East media day in Newport, R.I., on Tuesday. He is accompanied by wide receiver Alec Lemon, guard Zack Chibane, defensive tackle Jay Bromley and safety Shamarko Thomas.

Marrone also said Monday that Lemon and linebacker Marquis Spruill, who both missed spring practice with injuries, are ready to go for preseason camp.

Pugh has started all of the Orange’s 25 games in the last two seasons. Along with Chibane, the 6-foot-6, 292-pound Pugh will provide veteran leadership when he does return, as several young players vie for starting positions on the right side of the line.

Now, a young player will get a chance to play in Pugh’s spot at left tackle in the early part of the season. Marrone mentioned junior Sean Hickey as a possibility to take that spot. He also told Axe that sophomore Nick Robinson could shift from guard to tackle.

Said Marrone: “We have some flexibility within the offensive line.”

Published on July 30, 2012 at 11:07 pm

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman