Tucson CitizenTucson Citizen

Arizona’s Juron Criner misses practice; Stoops says he’ll play Thursday

Arizona's Juron Criner made 82 catches for 1,233 and 11 touchdowns last season. Photo by Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona star receiver Juron Criner missed Monday night’s practice because he was sick, coach Mike Stoops said on Tuesday morning’s Pac-12 coaches teleconference with the media.

A UA official, asked after Monday’s practice, if Criner had attended, responded: “No comment” … which sounds like something beyond a normal situation. (Media is not allowed to watch practice during the season.)

Stoops, who was responding to a question and rumors that Criner would miss Thursday’s game, didn’t elaborate on Criner’s status on Tuesday:

“I’m not going to talk about it,” he said. “We hope he is back today.”

Stoops added that he expects Criner to play Thursday against No. 7 Oklahoma State. It has been expected to be an offensive showdown featuring, in part, Criner and OSU’s Justin Blackmon, who won last season’s Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.

Criner has not spoken to the media since the summer after he missed about a month of informal team-related activities for what Stoops later called “personal and family reasons.”

Criner was superb in the opener against NAU, catching six passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.

Search site | Terms of service