Louisville WR Devante Parker needs foot surgery, could miss half the season

Louisville will be without its top receiving target for the first half of the season.

Coach Bobby Petrino announced Monday that senior wide receiver Devante Parker would miss 6-8 weeks with a broken left small toe.

Petrino said Parker broke the fifth metatarsal and will undergo surgery later Monday.

"He's such a calm guy, you wouldn't know that it really bothers him that much, and obviously it does," Petrino said of Parker. "He's a great competitor and a great player. He took it better than I probably did."

Parker suffered the injury during Friday night’s practice and went to Charlotte, N.C. for further evaluation from orthopedist Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist.

Parker was Louisville's leading receiver last season with 55 catches for 885 yards and a school-record 12 touchdowns. He was supposed to make the transition from former quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to Will Gardner an easy one, but his departure leaves a major void in the Cardinals’ receiving corps.

Kai De La Cruz,, who had 15 catches for 271 yards last year, is listed as Parker’s top backup. Eli Rogers and James Quick are the other two starting receivers for the season opener against Miami on Sept. 1.

For more Louisville news, visit CardinalSports.com.

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