Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze announced on the SEC Media Teleconference on Wednesday that wide receiver Horatio Fields suffered a broken foot during Tuesday’s practice and will be out indefinitely.
“Unfortunately, he broke his foot,” said Freeze. “ He will have to have surgery tomorrow, and it’s a huge loss for us. He was kind of the leader in that receiver room, who knew every position and gave us flexibility to do a lot of things. It’s a difficult loss.”
Fields was one of the Tigers’ most sure-handed options out wide. He posted 12 catches and 106 yards through four games this season.
When asked about who would step up in Fields’ absence, Freeze mentioned Perry Thompson as a guy he believes is ready to step up to the challenge.
“It’s his time to show he’s ready and to earn it,” said Freeze. “And obviously, we’re getting Sam (Turner) prepared to help. Perry has the potential and talent to do really good things. He’s got to learn to do them consistently, over and over again, and with technique. And he shows flashes of that. Now, we just need him to be more consistent. But he will be the first one to get that opportunity.”
Thompson, a former top-100 recruit in the 2024 class, has tallied seven catches for 137 yards through two seasons with the Tigers. He had a 70-yard reception in Auburn’s season opener last year against Alabama A&M.
The Tigers will kick off against the Aggies at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.