Minor injuries sidelined three Western wide receivers Tuesday, but quarterback Drew Newhart and company didn’t seem to mind.

I remember only two incomplete passes in the 20 minutes or so of 7-on-7 I watched Tuesday — both to fullback Gary Williams — as Newhart and backup Barron Bradshaw seemed to score at will from 20 yards out. Ferrell McGhee made a couple of nice grabs — one while being sandwiched in between two defenders in the end zone. While starters Cedric Houston and Andrew Mead likely will garner most of the accolades and adulation this season, I think McGhee will very quietly have a strong season and make it tough to double either of those guys in front of him.

Zach Sharp also looked solid in the slot, catching everything thrown his way and showing a deceptive ability to slip defenders.

As for Western’s aerial display, which came against a blitz exercise, I would wager it’s more of a testament to the Griffons’ potent offense than an indictment of their secondary. Like tailback Thomas Hodges told me Tuesday, “I don’t think there is anybody that can stop us.”

Coach Jerry Partridge spent much of his time Tuesday yelling at the Griffons to “stay up,” ever trying to minimize the risk of injuries. Even then, some of the bumps and bruises are starting to accumulate six days into fall ball. Tailback Anthony Easterwood missed Tuesday’s first session with a knee injury. He was the third-string back last year and looked poised to do the same this year. But with Easterwood sitting and a couple of other guys impressing during fall practice, that position is up for grabs. Freshman Sean Ratliff has been the most impressive of the challengers, according to Partridge. The Urbandale, Iowa, native has enough speed that coaches considered moving him to corner, and look for Ratliff to make a push for a spot behind Hodges and Zach Walker.

At wideout, Anthony Anderson left Friday’s practice with heat cramps and hasn’t practiced since. Adam Clausen and TJ Fannin suffered hamstring injuries, leaving the receiving corps a little thin. Partridge isn’t concerned about that injured trio for Western’s opener at Northern State on Aug. 28, but he is worried the extra reps for everyone else could leave those wideouts more susceptible to injury.

And to round out the injury report, tight end Alvaro Prado, who is recovering from a dislocated ankle suffered in spring practice, bruised his knee. Fellow tight end David Fowler is out with a concussion as well. None of that seemed to affect Newhart and Bradshaw on Tuesday though, a testament to Western’s depth not only at receiver, but its quality under center too.

--- And finally, the coaches released their preseason poll preseason poll Tuesday. For what its worth, Western received votes, coming in at 33rd if you extend the poll. I say that because Minnesota-Duluth — the Griffons’ opponent at Spratt Stadium on Sept. 6 — went 4-6 last season and landed at No. 22 in the rankings. Also, Missouri S&T, which Western fans should remember as the Missouri Rolla doormat, received four Top 25 votes. That should tell you all you need to know about the validity of the coaches poll.