Memphis football getting healthier but not at full strength for Saturday's game with SMU

After three weeks, Memphis can finally prepare for a game week against SMU. But what can fans look forward to seeing?

Coach Ryan Silverfield said Monday a majority of the roster will go to Dallas but added some players will miss Saturday's game (2:30 p.m., ESPN2) due to contact tracing for COVID-19.

Per team policy, he didn't say how many players were out and a depth chart was not yet available at press time. But Silverfield sounded more confident in his team's health than he was the previous two weeks following a COVID-19 outbreak reported within the program Sept. 11.

"We're getting back to where we need to be. Still not at full strength but we're getting to where we need to be, where we feel comfortable having normal practices rolling from there," Silverfield said.

He also some players who didn't play in the season opener against Arkansas State will be a full go. That could mean the return of Jacobi Francis, Thomas Pickens or La'Andre Thomas since they did not play Sept. 5.

However, depth will be an issue on Saturday. The No. 24-ranked Tigers resumed practice last week on a shorter, modified schedule and Silverfield said more players than usual will get reps against SMU to keep players fresh.

"I don't know if any of our players that have been out due to COVID, whether it be contact tracing or actually being directly affected with it, will be able to play 45 plays every rep," Silverfield said. "We're going to have rotate or be rotational in all three phases of our game."

It also makes for a greater challenge preparing for SMU (3-0), which has played and won the previous two weeks. The Tigers know they're facing a high-powered offense but their greatest challenge is making sure they're ready to keep pace,

They'll continue to test three times a week per AAC policy and will know the results of Friday's rapid antigen test before flying to Dallas. Even the plane ride will be a challenge due to keeping players, coaches and staff socially distanced

Yet for the first time in nearly a month, Memphis has a game to prepare for and Silverfield isn't taking that for granted. Rust is a concern 28 days between games but just being healthy enough to play is something he and the team are glad for.

"We do feel like we're over the massive bump that we had to overcome that's occurred the last few weeks but I feel like we're headed in the right direction," Silverfield said

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You can reach Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_B) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com