Of course, it could always be worse at QB. Here’s the ‘Cuse: Joe Fields to Perry Patterson to Andrew Robinson to Greg Paulus. I almost feel better about Pitt’s situation. Almost.

The scrimmage won’t change things at Tight End, but it will be curious to see who plays as the TEs have been nursing minor injuries and other things.

Pitt is suddenly short on tight ends, as redshirt freshman Mike Cruz was excused for a second consecutive day for what coach Dave Wannstedt called “personal reasons”, and seniors Nate Byham (headache) and Dorin Dickerson (hamstring) were held out of Sunday’s afternoon session.

Only redshirt freshman Justin Virbitsky and true freshmen Brock DeCicco and Jon Tisak, a walk-on, were available for practice.

It has remained that way, as Cruz has still been excused for the dreaded “personal reasons.” The importance of Cruz is not at the TE spot this year, but because he was expected to be the long-snapper on special teams. Considering that kicker and punter are up in the air spots, his presence or absence will impact.

Obviously the scrimmage may help start to form a depth chart for tailback. I honestly have no sense of it right now. All the backs — except perhaps for Shariff Harris — have appeared to have good days where they did things that drew attention and suggested they could take the job.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt admitted he was happy with the way Graham and the rest of the running backs ran yesterday but said it was too early to tell who will emerge from the pack.

“Ray Graham made a few people miss, but it is early yet,” Wannstedt said. “But [all of the running backs] held onto the ball. The guys who have been here showed their experience but I don’t think anyone out here did anything that we’re going to be handing out [LeSean McCoy‘s] jersey anytime soon or even [LaRod Stephens-Howling‘s] for that matter.”

Players have missed practices with minor injuries or such, but so far no season enders.

“It has just been bumps and bruises, nothing a situation where [we are concerned],” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “As long as there is nothing major. If there were any ACL injuries or shoulder [surgeries] then we’d talk about it, but this type of stuff is going to be there every day and it is all a part of camp.”

Yesterday the Panthers were without offensive tackle Lucas Nix (leg infection), safeties Elijah Fields (foot contusion) and Irvan Brown (calf), wide receiver Mike Shanahan (hand), tight ends Nate Byham (headache) and Dorin Dickerson (hamstring), and defensive tackles Myles Caragein (ankle) and Tyler Tkach (foot).

The danger of missing scrimmages, especially, for players like Shanahan and Caragein are in their battles on the depth chart. Byham, Nix and maybe Fields are still solid to be starters.

Fields, though, may not be the lock he seemed.

The defensive lineup is practically set. The only real position battle is at safety, where Taglianetti has surpassed Fields. The coaching staff probably would prefer to have Fields playing deep, only if for his size advantage but there is a trust factor with Taglianetti that gives him the edge.

This, of course, may simply be another tactic in keeping Fields hungry and not getting complacent.

Dan Mason may shock everyone at the way things are going. He is spectacular in camp and may actually push for the starting MLB spot.

Mason already has passed fifth-year senior Steve Dell for second-team reps, and Mason’s development could determine whether Gunn remains in the middle or returns to the outside, where he might be better suited.

“Dan Mason continues to show us that he’s going to be an outstanding player here at the University of Pittsburgh,” Wannstedt said. “Mason is where we were hoping he’d be. The one thing with him is, physically, he’s ready to play but as the offense adds plays and situations, every day is a new learning experience for him. I’ll be curious to see where he’s at two weeks from now or the third week of the season.”

“I could see him getting playing time, and I think he will.”

Of course, Mason is a freshman, this is Coach Wannstedt it is the MLB spot, and he has had a junior or senior man his entire time coaching Pitt. Could Wannstedt really go outside the comfort zone without an injury to force the move?

There is also the battle between Joe Thomas and Chris Jacobson for the left guard spot on the O-line. Thomas has apparently done well in camp. His issue has always been consistency when it comes to the game. Jacobson still appears to be grasping the mental stuff. Edge clearly favors Thomas at this point.