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Oklahoma State WR Marcell Ateman has foot surgery

Oklahoma State wide receiver Marcell Ateman is pictured during an NCAA college football game between UTSA and Oklahoma St in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015.(AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)
Oklahoma State wide receiver Marcell Ateman could miss the first month of the 2016 season. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)

It looks like Oklahoma State will be without a starting wide receiver when the season begins.

According to The Oklahoman, Marcell Ateman recently underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. The injury, which occurred during “non-contact summer drills,” could keep the senior out until October.

Ateman was solid for the Cowboys in 2015, totaling 45 catches for 766 yards and five touchdowns. He appeared in all 13 games, starting 12. OSU wide receivers coach Kasey Dunn told The Oklahoman that Ateman began to really show his potential as the season progressed.

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“His play was going up, up, up,” Dunn said. “And it all started about Game 6 or 7 last year, where he really started to climb. Played well against Baylor. Played really well against Ole Miss. Had a great offseason. Summer was killer. And then he gets nicked.”

Dunn said he doesn’t think the injury is “that big of a deal,” but isn’t exactly sure when Ateman will be able to return to the field. Jhajuan Seales and Chris Lacy will have to fill the void on the outside opposite big-play threat James Washington, Dunn said.

Seales had 18 catches for 321 yards and two touchdowns last year while Lacy added eight receptions for 120 yards and two scores. Coming off a solid true freshman campaign (29 catches, 253 yards, 3 TDs) Jalen McCleskey will also be in the mix for increased targets.

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The Cowboys boasted the seventh-best passing offense in the nation in 2015 with 353.2 yards per game. With quarterback Mason Rudolph back for his junior year, OSU is expected to be prolific through the air yet again. We’ll get our first glimpse of the 2016 Cowboys on Sept. 3 in a home game against Southeastern Louisiana.

For more Oklahoma State news, visit OStateIllustrated.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!