Injuries Force SDSU Pair Out of Practice

Two starters on the San Diego State football team left practice with injuries Tuesday and their status for Saturday’s game at Stanford is uncertain.

Brad Burton, a junior from El Capitan High School who started the first two games at nose tackle, sustained an open dislocation of his right index finger in practice, trainer Don Kaverman said.

Starting inside linebacker Lee Brannon, who left practice because of a thigh bruise he sustained in Sunday’s 39-36 victory against Air Force, was listed as questionable by Kaverman. Kaverman said he would not rule Burton out of the Stanford game, but said the injury was cause for concern because of the risk of infection and the difficulty in protecting the finger from further damage during a game.

Two other starters--tailback Paul Hewitt and defensive end Milt Wilson--missed practice for the second day because of ankle sprains. Starting flanker Patrick Rowe, who missed the Air Force game because of thigh bruise, has returned to practice.

Derek Santifer, who did not play against Air Force after ending spring practice as a starting outside linebacker, attended a team meeting Tuesday but was absent from practice, said Dan Underwood, outside linebacker coach. Underwood said Santifer was not excused from practice and did not know why he did not attend.