Pack's Irving to be evaluated Thursday

N.C. State linebacker Nate Irving will meet with a doctor Thursday to learn more about the status of his broken leg, coach Tom O’Brien said Monday during the team’s media day news conference.

Irving also suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung in a June 28 car crash. He has seen doctors to have those injuries evaluated, and the leg injury is what’s left to be examined.

O’Brien expects to have a better idea about Irving’s status for this season after Thursday’s meeting. N.C. State lists Irving as out “indefinitely,” and O’Brien sounds as though he’s prepared for a long absence.

"We’ll find out Thursday if he’s going to make it back some time this year, or if he’s going to be (out) for another year," O’Brien said.

Even if Irving is cleared to return at some point this season, O’Brien said, he will have a long period of rehabilitation to get into game shape. O’Brien said Irving was walking at the team’s pre-training camp meeting.

Irving led the team with four interceptions and made 84 tackles in 2008 despite missing three games with injuries. Sophomore Dwayne Maddox and redshirt freshman Terrell Manning are competing for Irving’s spot during training camp.