Backup defensive lineman Will Heininger may miss the 2010 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in practice last week.

Heininger played 12 games as a backup defensive end last year and was expected to provide depth along the line this fall.

“His availability for this coming season will depend on the rehab,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday. “He may be able to come back in late September, October, we don’t know yet. And he was having a really good spring, so that’s unfortunate.”

While Heininger is out, several other Wolverines are starting to get healthy.

Receivers Junior Hemingway, Martavious Odoms and JeRon Stokes practiced in green no-contact jerseys Tuesday, and Rodriguez said all three could be full go by next week.

Hemingway is recovering from a minor offseason knee operation, while Stokes sprained his ankle the first week of camp. Odoms has an undisclosed injury.

Safeties Vladimir Emilien and Jared Van Slyke, both out with sprained knees since mid-March, could return on a limited basis next week, as could backup offensive lineman Quinton Washington.

“Outside of that, the injuries that we had out for the spring, those guys are progressing well,” Rodriguez said. “The David Molks, the Brandon Herrons, Mike Martin, Vincent Smith, all those guys are right on schedule with their rehab so we feel good about that part.”

Molk and Smith are coming off ACL surgeries, Herron had a minor offseason knee procedure and Martin is returning from a shoulder injury.

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.