Drew Cairo-Gross is the latest Eastern football player battling an injury.

The 6-foot-2, 325-pound starting center for the Panthers had a sling on his left arm and did not practice Tuesday.

Cairo-Gross said he dislocated his shoulder Sunday while swimming at Lantz Natatorium in a workout with the offensive linemen.

He said he’s questionable for this Saturday’s game against Tennessee-Martin.

“Right now, I’m real optimistic about playing this weekend,” Cairo-Gross said. “It’s kind of a day-by-day thing. If (a shoulder) tightens up, then you’re OK to play. If it stays loose, then you’re not OK to play.”

Cairo-Gross said he is hopeful he can practice by Thursday and play this weekend.

The senior from Mundelein said he suffers from chronic subluxation, which he said is when a shoulder continually pops in and out of socket.

He said he has surgery planned after the season for the shoulder.

Cairo-Gross also missed the last four games of the 2006 season after he tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

“It’s very frustrating,” Cairo-Gross said. “I’ve been playing football all my life, and it’s hard once you get older and play so many snaps and your body begins to break down. That’s the frustrating part of it – just feeling your body breaking down a little bit more than you were used to when you were younger. (It’s) pretty sad when you’re 21 years old.”

Red-shirt sophomore Chris Vaccarro (6-3, 303) took the majority of snaps at center during Tuesday’s practice. Offensive line coach Jeff Hoover said Vaccarro or red-shirt senior Ryan Spears (6-5, 328) could start Saturday if Cairo-Gross is unable to play.

This is the second injury to a starter on the offensive line this year. Senior Anthony Rubican (6-6, 289), a three-year starter at right tackle, injured his left knee Sept. 30 at Southeast Missouri and is expected to miss at least two more weeks.

Red-shirt sophomores Mike Scheibel (6-0, 303) and Kevin Mahoney (6-6, 315) have split time at the right tackle spot.

“If you would have told me in the spring that Drew and Anthony weren’t going to play, I probably would have looked at the want ads,” Hoover said. “I think the other guys that are in there got to step up and help the new faces that are in there.”