Henderson coping

After a rough couple weeks, Seantrel Henderson said Saturday he’s hopeful he will be back on the field and competing for the starting right tackle job as early as next week.

Henderson had a friend and a relative pass away recently and a couple days before he returned home to Minnesota to attend the funeral of his friend, the 6-8, 340-pound junior was involved in a car accident in Miami. Henderson, who was driving with a suspended license, suffered a minor concussion and has yet to be cleared to return to action.

“I took a couple hard losses to my friends and family members and I’m just trying to get back on the field, get back in shape so I can help my team the way I want to and the way they need me to,” said Henderson, who was back at practice Saturday on a stationary bike for the first time in three days.

“It is kind of difficult and I can’t say I’m all the way past it.”

Henderson, cited for three infractions in the accident and fined $484, said he was wearing his seat belt during the crash, but didn’t elaborate on the wreck. A public information officer told The Miami Herald recently Henderson wasn’t alone in the crash and at least one teammate was with him, but that no one was seriously injured.

“It was kind of scary,” Henderson said. “I’m just glad to still be alive... To be honest, I don’t want to relive it. I’m kind of past that. It was just real scary. I really didn’t know what happened at first. I just kind of blanked a little bit.”