Following an 0-and-2 start and fresh off a heartbreaking loss to UAB on the road the Pirates were in desperate need of some good news. That good news came in the form of a boost to an already stout ECU defense that played a heck of game in Birmingham, Alabama.

During his weekly press conference on Monday ECU head coach Skip Holtz stated that linebacker Pierre Bell and defensive lineman Shauntae Hunt had been cleared to practice after missing the first two games of the season with injuries.

Bell and Hunt hit the ground running during this week's workouts and are chomping at the bit to run onto the field at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for the home opener on Saturday. "I didn't think I was going to come back this early, said Hunt. But God blessed me and I'm just ready to get out there in front of that crowd and be the captain and be a leader on my team and help us bring home the first victory this year."

There was good reason for Hunt to be skeptical about an early return to the field. He was rehabilitating a torn ACL, torn MCL and suffered a meniscus tear but thanks to surgery and his MCL healing on its own he's ready for Memphis.

As for Pierre Bell, he is fully recovered from a shoulder injury that sidelined him during the first two games of the season. "I'm 100 percent" said Bell. "I've been practicing all week. I wouldn't be practicing if I wasn't 100 percent. I'll be ready for the game."

The bad news of the week is that an MRI on Monday showed that running back Dominique Lindsay suffered a torn ACL during the second half of the UAB game and will miss at least four weeks of football, maybe more.

Quarterback James Pinkney tweaked his ankle last Saturday but contrary to some reports Pinkney briefly wore an ankle brace and did not miss any practice time this week. Pinkney should be ready to go prior to kickoff this weekend against Memphis.

Go Pirates.