Virginia Tech linebacker Tariq Edwards will undergo surgery on his leg and is expected to miss 3-4 months, the school announced on Tuesday.Edwards will have a rod inserted in his left tibia to relieve pain from a stress fracture in his shin, the procedure is scheduled to take place on Tuesday. According to head athletic trainer Mike Goforth, Edwards is expected to rejoin the team for the second summer session and be ready to play for the 2012 season.
"The injury occurred late in the season and he played in the bowl game with it," Goforth said in the official release from the school. "We don't like to rush in and do surgery on those unless you absolutely have to. It hasn't healed by conservative measures, so it's time to go ahead and fix it."
Edwards started all 14 games for Virginia Tech in 2011, recording 71 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. Along with fellow juniors Antone Exum and Kyle Fuller , Edwards is expected to be one of the leaders of a defensive unit has not been able to shake the injury bug recently.
Defensive coordinator Bud Foster confirmed on Monday that linebackers Bruce Taylor and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow will be limited in spring practice as they recover from their respective Lisfranc fracture foot injuries. That leaves Foster with no starting linebackers from last season's opener at full strength when spring practice gets underway next week.
The absence of all three players means plenty of opportunities for redshirt senior Alonzo Tweedy , along with redshirt juniors Telvion Clark and Jack Tyler , to make a good impression on the coaching staff heading into fall camp.
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