Football practice is still 13 days away, but the Austin Packers have already suffered a key injury to their squad.

Wednesday, August 04, 1999

Football practice is still 13 days away, but the Austin Packers have already suffered a key injury to their squad.

Senior Nick Rohne, who will be a captain this year, suffered a third-degree separated shoulder last week in a non-contact scrimage of 7-on-7 in Bethal.

Rohne, who has his right arm in a sling, is expected to be out until early September, and will definitely miss the Packers’ season opener Sept. 3 in Winona. He will see a doctor again on Aug. 17, the day after the Packers officially start practice, to see how the injury is healing.

Rohne didn’t have surgery because he was told by a doctor that if he did so he would be sidelined for three months.

The defensive back/fullback sufered the injury while on defense during a passing drill.

"I dove for the ball and landed on my right shoulder," Rohne recalled. "Then the other guy landed on my left shoulder and ended up driving my right shoulder into the ground."

Rohne said the arm is still "pretty sore."

"It’s disapointing," he said. "I know I’m going to miss the first two weeks of workouts."

Last year, Rohne ran for 92 yards on 20 carries, caught one pass for six yards and scored three touchdowns. He led the Packers in kickoff returns, returning 12 for 200 yards. He also led the Packers in interceptions with three and had 43 tackles, 14 of which were unassisted.

The Packers finished 6-4 last year and were knocked out of the Section 1A finals 21-16 by Owatonna.