’Canes adjust as Pinckney recovers

CORAL GABLES – As the Hurricanes move through the second week of camp, they find themselves still without one of their top linebackers, sophomore Michael Pinckney.

Pinckney, who was a freshman All-American last season, missed his fifth consecutive workout while dealing with a hamstring issue. Hurricanes coach Mark Richt has said he remains hopeful Pinckney can return to practice soon, but in the meantime several other linebackers are getting additional reps.

Among them? Redshirt junior Darrion Owens, who appeared in 12 games last season and collected 17 tackles, but struggled at times after missing most of 2015 with a knee injury.

“I am feeling a lot better. It’s not like those days last year when I would go hard one practice to the next practice and be really sore so I couldn’t really do too much,” Owens said. “[Now] my knee is always feeling really good. It’s back to normal.”

After Tuesday’s practice, Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz noted Jamie Gordinier is also seeing increased playing time in Pinckney’s absence. But like Owens, Gordinier — a redshirt sophomore — is working back from a knee injury. The linebacker was hurt in last year’s opener against Florida A&M.

“It is so hard in college football when these guys have to battle back from injuries,” Diaz said. “. . . All of a sudden, you have to get back in the mix.”

Next game: Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman, Sept. 2, 12:30 p.m., ACC Regional Sports Network

Christy Cabrera Chirinos