Safety Bratton sidelined with injuries; another player no longer on the UVA team

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Darrius Bratton is listed on this week’s Virginia two-deep for Old Dominion (2 p.m., ACC Network), but is presently nicked up, while another Cavalier is no longer part of the team.

Bratton, a 6-foot, 193-pound graduate player from Roanoke, has been dealing with a bone bruise and high-ankle sprain. He is listed behind sophomore Jonas Sanker at the “SPUR” position on UVA’s defense, which is a hybrid safety spot that involves run defense, pass coverage and even pass rush. Bratton did not play at Illinois last Saturday, and while he’s listed on this week’ depth chart, Elliott said he hopes to have him back in the next couple of weeks.

“We’re hoping it’s not a long-term issue,” UVA coach Tony Elliott said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “He played in the first game and man, love him because he gave us everything he had, but he’s just not healthy.”

Elliott said Bratton’s injuries are just going to take time.

“He didn’t do much last week practice-wise,” said Elliott. “He’s out there this week moving around, but what I told him and what I told Kelly [Pugh], our head trainer, I said, ‘Look, it’s not fair to put him out on the field if he’s not healthy because he can’t protect himself.’ There were some times in the first game that he was compensating and he almost got himself hurt.”

Virginia is also hoping to have punter Daniel Sparks available for Saturday’s game. Sparks did not play last week against Illinois.

In other UVA football roster news, Mike Green, a 6-3, 235-pound sophomore “bandit” from Williamsburg (Lafayette HS) is no longer with the Cavaliers.

“He’s just no longer active with the team anymore,” Elliott said of the defensive end/outside linebacker. “That’s where I’m going to leave that one.”

For more coverage of today’s presser, check back later as Elliott discusses what went wrong at Illinois and how the Cavaliers hope to fix it, along with what he thinks about this week’s opponent, Old Dominion.