INDIANAPOLIS — South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders‘ experience at the NFL Scouting Combine was cut short Saturday when he aggravated an existing foot injury, which was later diagnosed as a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot.

Saunders said he originally sustained the injury about three or four weeks ago during his training for the combine, but he didn’t have an examination. Doctors only discovered the fracture during medical testing when Saunders arrived here, he said.

Having already met with teams, Saunders said they were aware of the condition. But Saunders tried to work through it, and while it initially didn’t bother him as he participated in both the vertical jump and the broad jump at Lucas Oil Stadium, it became an issue as he warmed up for the 40-yard dash.

Saunders was pretty dejected as he sat on a training table with ice on the foot, watching his fellow tight ends work through drills before he was carted off the sideline. He already was dealing with the fallout from being kicked off the South Carolina team last season for alleged NCAA rules violations.

Saunders said doctors told him he probably would need surgery, which would include a recovery time of 4 to 6 weeks. His South Carolina pro day is scheduled for March 30, so Saunders hopes to find another pro day in April to join.

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