Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips expected Derrick Locke to return this weekend for the Mississippi State game, but his availability is once again questionable because of a lingering shoulder stinger.Locke sat out Wednesday’s practice with fatigue in his arm. His status is for Saturday is uncertain. “I’m not sure (if he will play) at this time,” Phillips said.Locke, who leads UK in rushing with 574 yards and seven touchdowns, suffered the injury to his right shoulder in the loss to Auburn. Shoulder stingers, a nerve injury to the arm that usually causes pain or weakness in the arm, typically doesn’t last much longer than a few days.Some cases last longer, and it appears that Locke has the latter as he is yet to regain full feeling in his arm.”It’s not just a stinger,” Phillips said. He hasn’t had any feeling back in three weeks, so it’s a little bit more than a stinger. I don’t have the knowledge to know all the details of it, but it’s more than a stinger.”Phillips said there is some minor concern about Locke’s long-term health and availability.”After three weeks, yeah, you’ve got to be a little bit concerned,” Phillips said. “Our medical people don’t have much as concern as myself or Derrick, so we’ve got to trust in those guys.”UK players do not have to speak to the media when they are injured. Locke declined to speak to reporters Wednesday as he tries to get back on the football field.Phillips has said he won’t use Locke until he’s regained full use and feeling of his arm.”If he can’t protect himself, we’re not going to put him out on the field,” Phillips said.Kentucky went 1-1 without Locke, including an upset of No. 10 South Carolina two weeks ago, but the Cats are certainly better with Locke in the lineup than without him.”He’s one of the few guys in this league that can go 80 yards, we’re definitely looking forward to getting him back,” Phillips said Monday at his weekly news conference.

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