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The injuries keep coming for Illinois.
Illini wide receiver Justin Hardee will miss at least the first two games of the 2015 season with a broken foot, he suffered running routes in an offseason workout, reports ESPNCU's Jeremy Werner.
Hardee is the elder statesman among the wide receivers, entering his fourth year with the program. During three seasons, he has 47 receptions for 527 yards and one touchdown. With the ACL injury to top receiver Mikey Dudek, Hardee figured to be a key target for quarterback West Lunt on the outside.
Hardee's breakout game against Western Kentucky last season, when he caught six passes for 110 yards and the go-ahead touchdown against the Hilltoppers.
The Cleveland native graduated from the university last December, receiving his bachelor's degree in communications in one two and half years. He is currently in graduate school, working on his master's degree.
Luckily, Hardee's injury isn't a major blow because of the team's depth at the position--the unit will be fine as long as he's back in time for the North Carolina game. Here's the new projected depth chart:
| 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | 4th string | |
| Outside | Geronimo Allison | Tyrin Stone-Davis | Sam Mays | Desmond Cain |
| Slot | Malik Turner | Zach Grant | Trenard Davis | Mikey Dudek (injured) |
| Outside | Marchie Murdock | Dionte Taylor | Raphael Barr |
Justin Hardee (injured)
|
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