Several notable players were missing Thursday from Kansas University’s football practice.

Running backs Jerome Kemp and Clark Green and linebacker John McCoy attended the workout but were held out of drills. Defensive lineman Tim Allen also stood on the sidelines — with the aid of crutches.

Junior co-captain Travis Watkins wasn’t there at all.

“This is the time of the year that you get a lot of people nicked up — bumps and bruises,” said KU coach Mark Mangino, who does not release information related to injuries. “Some are more serious than others. The only thing I can tell you is that most of the injuries look to be a day or two type of thing. Travis Watkins will be longer.”

Mangino said Watkins, a defensive tackle, would miss the Aug. 30 season opener against Northwestern, but didn’t reveal specifics.

Watkins’ father, Sam, said in a phone interview his son broke his right foot in Wednesday night’s scrimmage and would be out six to eight weeks. X-rays revealed the break Wednesday night, but Watkins — who broke his left foot while playing basketball for Derby High — was already aware.

“He knew exactly what it was,” said Sam Watkins, whose son was scheduled to be examined by doctors Thursday afternoon.

Mangino and Sam Watkins both said the defensive tackle would play this year — the question is when. Watkins could put his injured foot in a cast and stay off it. In that scenario, he might be able to return for the Oct. 18 game against Baylor. Another option would be surgery, which might help the foot heal faster.

Watkins can’t take a red-shirt year because he sat out as a freshman in 2000. If he’s unable to return to action this year, he could apply to the NCAA for a medical hardship and a sixth year of eligibility.

Kansas University football players Tim Allen (90) and John McCoy (36) watch the Jayhawks' practice from the sidelines. Allen and McCoy were two of several players nursing injuries Thursday at the KU practice fields.

Freshman John Randle was doing most of the work in the Jayhawk backfield Thursday. Kemp and Green sat out practice after getting banged up in Wednesday’s scrimmage.

Mangino said neither tailback would rest long.

“They’re banged up a little bit, nothing serious,” Mangino said. “And I’m sure they want to heal up pretty fast after watching John Randle the last couple of days. If I was a running back I would get on the stick here. John Randle is putting a lot of pressure on the running backs. He’s had a tremendous camp.”

Green led KU with 813 yards last season as a freshman, but he was being pushed by Kemp, a red-shirt freshman. Randle, Kemp’s former Wichita Southeast teammate, also has had a solid summer, starting with an MVP performance in the Shrine Bowl.

McCoy, a junior linebacker from Victor Valley College, did not participate in Thursday’s drills and limped off the field after practice. Allen, a sophomore who started seven games last year, walked the sideline on crutches and appeared to have a sprained left ankle.

¢ 6Sports video: Jayhawks’ Watkins breaks foot in practice

Meanwhile, Kansas will have to fill the void left by Watkins, who started 22 of the last 23 games.

Junior-college transfer Chuck Jones, listed as a defensive end, was working at tackle Thursday. Mangino, however, said no decisions had been made on Watkins’ replacement.

While his teammates prepare for the season opener, Watkins will have to find other ways to stay in shape.

“He’s a fanatic with the gym, so he’ll probably do upper-body stuff,” his father said.

Sam Watkins, who spent the morning with his son, said there were other Jayhawks banged up after Wednesday’s 135-play scrimmage and Thursday’s three-hour practice.

“I was in that cafeteria, and I had flashbacks to Vietnam,” he said. “Guys with ice on their knees, ice on their shoulders. They looked like they’d been working hard. That’s what happens when you work hard.”

Freshman receiver Moderick Johnson continued to impress coaches, but he went down late Thursday after hurting his right shoulder.

Johnson did not talk to reporters but indicated he was OK while leaving the field.

“Mo is doing well,” Mangino said. “We’re really pleased with him. At the pace he’s going, he’s going to play this year. We’re probably not going to ask him to red-shirt. He’s too talented. He can run. He’s got size. He can catch the ball at a high point. Yardage after the catch is something he’s really good at. I’m pretty sure he’s going to play.”