Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops expects outside linebacker Austin Box to be able to play this Saturday when the fourth-ranked Sooners host Cincinnati.

Box missed the season opener against Chattanooga after having arthroscopic surgery last month to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.

Stoops said Tuesday that Box had returned to practice and his playing time would depend on how he practices this week.

"It's like anything. It takes a little bit of time to work on all of the above," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said after practice.

Venables said it would be harder for Box, a redshirt freshman, to get up to speed than a junior like Auston English who had been out for three weeks following an emergency appendectomy but was able to start the opener.

Venables said he had seen "some good and bad" from Box in his first two practices, but he was "physically, health-wise just fine."

"You're creatures of habit, good, bad or indifferent. If you've been doing it, naturally you get better the more you do it," Venables said. "When you take three weeks off, it's different if you're a guy that's been here for three years. ... Austin will be fine in time here."

The Sooners are somewhat inexperienced at linebacker after losing senior captain Lewis Baker from last year's team and having leading tackler Curtis Lofton leave following his junior year to enter the NFL draft.

Box was expected to make his first career start before his injury. Travis Lewis was in his place in the lineup in the season opener, and junior college transfer Mike Balogun played in a backup role.

"Box was the starter above me and Mike, so right now he's taking the snaps with the (starters). I'm sprinkling in here and there, but if he's ready, he's the guy," Lewis said. "I have all the confidence in Box."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.