Greg Lee got hurt in practice.

Greg Lee let out a yelp, and Pitt receivers coach Aubrey Hill felt his heart leap into his throat.

Lee, one of the top wideouts in the Big East, sustained a shoulder injury about one hour into Thursday afternoon’s practice. Lee was back on the field — wearing a sling on his right arm — at the end of the workouts, but did not speak with reporters.

“Hopefully, he’ll be out just a few days,” Hill said.

The nature of Lee’s injury was not immediately disclosed. Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt, who held his daily press briefing before practice, was not available for comment.

Lee sustained the injury while making a tumbling catch in the end zone of the far practice field. He and free safety Tez Morris went airborne after the ball, and they rolled after crashing to the ground.

Lee had a quad injury last year at training camp, that led to Coach Harris calling him out about nursing it too long — and some questions (including from me) about Harris’ decision to go public about calling him out. Even Fitzgerald in 2003, had to miss a practice or two because of training camp injuries. So, I’m not going to panic yet. Of course, both were leg issues, not a shoulder issue (some reports are calling a shoulder bruise and a day-to-day injury).

Some notes from practice, including the observation that Irvan Brown also played some linebacker in high school, which should help him learn the defense.

The Offensive Line, once more is brand new. Some are just shifting positions on the line, but it should be pretty good. My main concern is the depth. Injuries will happen, and there are big questions about what happens then.

Center Joe Villani earns a puff piece, explaining how a walk-on would appear to be Pitt’s starting Center.

The summer before his junior season at St. Anthony’s High School in Long Island, Villani, who was a heralded defensive end, was beginning to get plenty of interest from major-college programs. But in the second game of that year, his knee was injured and he missed the rest of the season.

Villani spent the next year rehabbing his knee, lifting weights and returned for his senior season 35 pounds heavier. That prompted coaches to move him to center and he quickly became a standout.

“I had a lot of programs interested, but once I got hurt, everyone stopped calling,” Villani said. “So I was content to go to school for academics and play football for fun. I had a good senior season then decided to head to Bucknell because it is a great school.”

Shortly after arriving at Bucknell, Villani realized he had sold himself short and might face a lifetime of regret if he didn’t make a change. So he called his parents and told them he’d finish the season but would look to transfer to a Division I-A program.

“The first day of practice at Bucknell I was working against a guy who was like a two-time All-American and I was throwing him all over the place and pushing him on the ground like nothing,” Villani said. “I realized right then I could indeed play at a higher level — the highest level — and it had always been a goal of mine so I wasn’t going to let my career pass me by without giving it a shot. I knew I was good enough to play here.”

Villani chose Pitt because his coach had worked with the Jets at the same time Walt Harris was an assistant coach with the team and recommended him. He sat out the 2003 season because of NCAA transfer rules but last year learned all three offensive line positions and showed he was capable of filling in at any of them.

Tim Murphy, one of my favorite players on the team, gets a nice piece on his versatility.

At the outset of camp, it’s a five-man derby — Murphy, freshman Rashad Jennings, sophomore Brandon Mason and seniors Raymond Kirkley and Marcus Furman.

“Murph is not as quick as some other guys, but he’s shifty,” running backs coach David Walker said. “He knows how to get to seams. He’s got good eyes. He can see the open gaps and attack them.

“That’s a lot of what it takes to be a running back. It does you no good if you have ability but you’re constantly running to darkness. Getting to the openings and running to daylight, that’s what makes a guy productive. He can do those things.”
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Murphy remains the best blocker on the team. But Walker said Kellen Campbell and Justin Acierno have made enough strides in that area to be able starters at fullback.

“I think we’ll have a solid guy, whether it’s Murph or someone else,” Walker said.

Spending his first two college seasons as a fullback boosted Murphy’s tailback talents because it make him a better blocker and pass-catcher. It also could raise his stock among NFL scouts.

“It’ll be a better opportunity for me in the long run,” he said.

I like Murphy at least sharing times as the tailback. He has the strength to get through the hole and pick up good yardage.