Floyd could return in November
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd is healing faster than expected from a broken left collarbone and could be ready to play by early to mid-November.
Floyd was in full pads at practice Tuesday but was taking part only on a limited basis. During an agility drill where quarterbacks and receivers ran back and forth between pads, Floyd and quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who has turf toe on his right foot, jogged along straight ahead beside the others.
"So you're on the Clausen program, huh?" Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis joked.
Later, while other receivers caught passes and were battered by pads being swung by trainers, Floyd mimicked catching a pass and ran through untouched.
Floyd had surgery on Sept. 20 to have a plate placed on the bone for reinforcement, a day after he was injured when he landed on his shoulder trying to make a catch against Michigan State.
Floyd is scheduled to undergo a CAT scan the first week of November.
"Based off the results of that CAT scan they'll determine if and when we can get him back," Weis said. "Fingers crossed the earliest we can get him back is Pittsburgh."
The Irish play Pittsburgh Nov. 14, and on Tuesday a Notre Dame spokesman told The Associated Press that Floyd could return as soon as Nov. 7 against Navy.
At the time of the injury, Weis said Floyd might be available for a bowl game. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore was second in the nation in receiving yards at 160 yards a game when he was hurt.
No. 25 Notre Dame hosts No. 6 Southern California on Saturday. Weis said that both fullback James Aldridge, who's been out since the Irish's Sept. 5 season-opening win over Nevada, and linebacker Darius Fleming, who missed the Washington game on Oct. 3, are healthy and ready to go this weekend.
Information from ESPN.com's Brian Bennett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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