Coastal Carolina could be without a key linebacker this week against Western Illinois

Coastal Carolina senior middle linebacker Shane Johnson, who missed the final three quarters of Saturday’s loss to Alabama-Birmingham with a right ankle injury, is considered questionable and will likely be a game-day decision this week, according to interim head football coach Jamey Chadwell.

Johnson was the Chants’ leading returning tackler this season after being second on the team with 66 tackles in 10 games in 2016, and recorded seven tackles in the opening win against Massachusetts. Coastal plays Western Illinois at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Brooks Stadium.

“He’s obviously the leader of the defense in his position of linebacker,” Chadwell said. “He brings a great toughness and physicality, and he’s played a lot of football.”

Johnson’s injury was the result of friendly fire as hard-hitting safety Fitz Wattley and Johnson were converging from opposite sides on a ball carrier at the goal line, and Wattley dived into Johnson’s lower right leg attempting to make the tackle.

His ankle was taped and he tested it on the sideline but never reentered the game. He was in a walking boot Wednesday.

“He’s in rehab quite a bit right now trying to get back. It’s 50-50,” Chadwell said. “If he’s not playing it will be a loss for us. … Hopefully we’ll get him back sooner than later but we’ve got to get ready to play without him.”

This story was originally published September 20, 2017 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Coastal Carolina could be without a key linebacker this week against Western Illinois."