No 2 receiver unlikely to play after injury setback

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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Michigan will likely be without its No. 2 receiver, Jason Avant, for the Rose Bowl, The Daily Oakland Press reported Tuesday.

Avant, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late November, has not practice since he suffered a setback after practice a week ago. If he is not able to practice in the next day or two, he will not play in Saturday's Rose Bowl matchup with Texas.

"I'm losing confidence that he'll play,'' coach Lloyd Carr said Monday.

"He had a wonderful practice in Ann Arbor, but as frequently happens with these kind of injuries, the next day, he had some swelling. The swelling has left the knee, but it's moved into the calf,'' Carr said. "If it were 10 days, I'm sure he would play. The question is how quickly the swelling will leave the calf.

"Unless that swelling moves completely out of the leg, I think it's going to be very difficult for him to play."

In 11 games this season, Avant had 38 receptions for 448 yards and three touchdowns. He was second only to Braylon Edwards, who set Michigan records for receptions (87) and receiving yards (1,221).

He had four catches for 61 yards in last year's Rose Bowl, when Michigan lost to USC, 28-14.

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