TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State running back Mario Pender has been released from the hospital after suffering a collapsed lung in practice last month.
A redshirt junior, Pender was hospitalized Sept. 22 when his lung collapsed after bumping into an offensive lineman during a bye-week practice. He was originally expected to be released two days after the incident, but the injury required surgery.
Pender, a 21-year-old from Fort Myers, Florida, is the team's second-string running back. He missed last week's game against Wake Forest., and head coach Jimbo Fisher said Pender, who lost 18 pounds during his hospitalization, will miss a few weeks. If he cannot return this season, Florida State could apply for a medical redshirt, Fisher said.
"He was moving around, talking, in great spirits and had a good look in his eye," Fisher said Thursday. "I was very happy to see that."
Pender is second on the Seminoles with 140 rushing yards.
Starting running back Dalvin Cook (hamstring) is not listed on the Seminoles' injury report, but Fisher would not commit to Cook playing Saturday against Miami (8 p.m. ET, ABC). A sophomore, Cook suffered the injury late in the first quarter against Wake Forest and did not return to the game.
Cook practiced the past two days.
"He was fine," Fisher said. "He took some reps. All that is day to day, and we got to see how it affects him [Friday]. We gave him more as the week went on. We have to wait and see how sore he is tomorrow and how it affects him."
Asked if he thought there was a good chance Cook could play, Fisher said he did not know.
"We'll have to wait and see," Fisher said. "Dalvin is a tough guy, and it wouldn't shock me, but if he's hurt, we're not going to [play him]."
Johnathan Vickers is likely to start if Cook cannot play.