CHESTNUT HILL - Boston College football quarterback Dylan Lonergan did not practice with the team on Tuesday for what head coach Bill O'Brien described as a precautionary absence.
Lonergan is expected to be back under center when the Eagles engage Michigan State in a nationally televised (NBC) clash on Saturday night (7:30 p.m.) at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
"He's doing good, a little extra day of treatment, he needed some extra treatment on some things," O'Brien said. "He should be good to go on Saturday.
"There's no specific deal. He just needed an extra day of treatment, so we decided to do that. He will be out there (Wednesday) tomorrow."
O'Brien named Lonergan the starter back on Aug. 12 over incumbent Grayson James, who took the majority of the practice snaps on Tuesday.
Lonergan cemented his hold on the starting job in BC's 66-10 victory over Fordham at Alumni Stadium. The redshirt sophomore transfer from Alabama completed 26-of-34 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns before being replaced by James in the second half.
Lonergan showed no signs of distress or difficulty walking when he met with the BC media after the game. O'Brien turned the ball over to James because the outcome of the game was well in hand.
Tuesday practice tends to be the most pivotal session in the college football week in terms of game preparation. But O'Brien believes that Lonergan's extensive work in training camp and in preparation for the Fordham game would make up for the lost time on Tuesday.
"He's had a lot of reps," O'Brien said. "He's had a lot of reps, he's studies film, and he knows how to study film.
"It is one less day of preparation, that's true action-wise. Physically, (he's ready) for Michigan State, which is a very good team. But we felt like it was in the best interest of the team that he got treatment today."
The BC passing game will be on solid ground against the Spartans if Lonergan's setback takes a turn for the worse. James assumed command of the BC offense last season after starter Tommy Castellanos had a falling out with O'Brien.
James appeared in six games with five starts that included ACC wins over Syracuse, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh. James completed 106-of-160 passes for 1,202 yards (200.3 per game average) with six touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 134.2 passer efficiency rating.
Castellanos transferred to Florida State and led the Seminoles to a 31-17 victory over Alabama on Saturday.
BC tight end Jeremiah Franklin was a viable option in Lonergan's progressions in the win over Fordham. Franklin was targeted six times and finished with five catches for 50 yards, which included 17 yards after catch.
Franklin put the middle of the field in play on short and intermediate routes while allowing speedy wide receivers Jaeden Skeete, Lewis Bond, and Reed Harris to stretch the field on the Rams' secondary.
Bond led all receivers with 11 catches for 138 yards while Skeete scored on touchdown catches of 11 and 13 yards.
"We all got our fair share of shots and we showed the ability to get those chunk plays," said Franklin, a 6-foot-3, 244-pound senior from Walkersville, Maryland.
"When you have a lot of explosives and chunk plays, it is really going to change the dynamic of the field. Once you get those plays rolling, you really get good momentum."
BC had two dominant tight ends in the last 10 years, with "Touchdown" Tommy Sweeney (Bills) followed by All-American Hunter Long, who was taken in the third round by the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 draft.
The position has been underutilized, but Franklin feels that offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Will Lawing puts him in the right place to make plays.
"I think what we do a good job of is understanding that our playmakers are going to go out there and make some big plays," Franklin said. "He (Lawing) likes to do a good job of mixing it up, and we are going to put you here and put you there and give a little mix-up to the defense.
"Coach Lawing is going to put us in positions that can really elevate our games and play to our strengths."
Redshirt senior defensive tackle Owen Stoudmire was back on the practice field Tuesday, an occurrence that looked like a long shot back on Aug. 9.
The Eagles suspended practice after Stoudmire collapsed to the turf after taking a blow to the upper body. Stoudmire was transported by ambulance to an area hospital but was released later that night.
"He is one of the leaders of the team," O'Brien said. "He may not be a captain, but he is definitely a leader.
"When he went down with that injury in training camp, that was a tough day. What a tough kid coming back. The doctors cleared him to play, and he can't wait to get back out there."