Yates cleared to practice on limited basis

By: By Bill Cole | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: October 30, 2008

Quarterback T.J. Yates of North Carolina has been medically cleared to return to limited practice, but Coach Butch Davis said yesterday that Cameron Sexton will remain the starter for the foreseeable future.

Yates participated in some individual drills on Tuesday and passed to receivers after trainers determined that his broken left ankle had healed adequately. Yates also participated in seven-on-seven drills in which the quarterback isn't rushed or tackled.

Davis said he was pleased with Yates' recovery since suffering the injury on Sept. 20 in a game against Virginia Tech, but he said more improvement is necessary for Yates to return to the field.

"Anything that had to do with team (drills) he was not allowed to do," Davis said. "He'll do that this week and we'll judge how he handles it this week to determine whether or not he takes the next step next week that would allow him to maybe participate (fully). He's still a ways away."

Yates had started 15 consecutive games for the Tar Heels before the broken ankle. Team doctors said that he needed at least six weeks of recovery time before he could return to practice. Saturday will mark six weeks since the injury.

North Carolina is off this week. It will play again on Nov. 8 against Georgia Tech in Chapel Hill. Davis couldn't say if Yates would be ready for reserve action by then.

"Certainly we have no idea when that healthy date is going to be," Davis said. "Is it two weeks from now or is it four weeks from now?"

Sexton took over at quarterback in the next game on the Tar Heels' third offensive possession and has held the position since. He has helped the Tar Heels to a 4-1 record by completing 59.8 percent of his passes for 964 yards and six touchdowns.

Davis said that Sexton has won the right to keep playing by his performance on the field.

"I think what it does is it certainly gives us two quarterbacks that our team has confidence to play," Davis said. "But certainly the way that Cam's playing, barring any unforeseen injury or anything, Cam would continue to be the guy.

"As I've told the players all along since the day I took the job, the guy that gives us the best chance to win on Saturday regardless of the position is the guy that we're going to play."

■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.