The Gerren Griffin story is turning into an interesting one.

A week ago, Mickey Matthews said the JMU safety's season might be over because of an eye infection. But on Monday, his coach said Griffin might rejoin the Dukes at practice this week.

Matthews said Griffin had a rare form of the chicken pox virus in his eye.

Doctors put the odds of contracting the virus at "one in two or three million," according to Matthews. He added Griffin could have lost sight in the eye as a result.

But at his weekly press conference, Matthews said Griffin was recovering well enough to potentially play this Saturday at Richmond.

"Talking to him last night, he's ready to play," says Matthews. "But I have to visit with the doctors and his father, and see what we're going to do."

Matthews said it's also possible that Griffin wouldn't be cleared for a game until after JMU's October 18 open date.