RANTOUL – Illinois receiver Jeff Cumberland will miss two to four weeks after having a pin inserted in his injured foot Friday.
"It's something that's not as complicated as what he had done in, I believe, February," Illinois coach Ron Zook said after Friday's evening practice.
Cumberland was projected to start the opener Aug. 30 against Missouri. The team follows with games against Eastern Illinois and Louisiana-Lafayette before taking Sept. 20 off.
"Jeff will be back probably sooner than anybody thinks," Zook said. "If it's a couple weeks, great. The Missouri game will probably be tough.
"It gives other guys an opportunity to step up."
Cumberland moved from tight end to receiver during the 2007 season. He caught one pass in the first nine games but had 11 catches in the final four games. Against Northwestern, Cumberland caught four passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
With Cumberland out, converted cornerback Chris Duvalt moves to the first team. Duvalt scored on a long touchdown pass during Friday's practice, jumping over a security rope after running out of the back of the end zone.
"Chris has done extremely well," Zook said. "Thank God we moved him. He's doing a good job."
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