Edwards could play as early as the N.C. State game on Nov. 18.
“Knowing Larry Edwards, nothing ever surprises me with him,” John Bunting said on Tuesday. “He wants to play. He wants to help the team win.”
UNC trainers noticed Edwards shoulder was bruised prior to the USF game, and he was held out of some contact situations the week before.
“The initial report was it would be basically the whole season,” Bunting said. “We see healing and it’s going to be a pain as tolerated and see how things go. We’re going to progress him as he feels and how he does. Whether it’s next week or the week after, I don’t know. I know this, he wants to play.”
Edwards went out leading the Tar Heels in ’06 with 42 tackles (28 solo), including 4.5 tackles for losses totaling 21 yards. He also had two sacks and recovered two fumbles.
Linebacker Durell Mapp currently has a team-high 60 stops, but Edwards still leads UNC in tackles for loss.
“It’s good just to see him running around back there,” Bunting said. “I’m hopeful we can have him back before the season is over, but it’s day-to-day right now.”