The Temple Owls were already fighting an uphill battle with regards to wide receiver production in 2012, and that hill may be getting steeper.

The Owls lost their top three receivers from a season ago, and now the status of their leading returning receiver, Deon Miller, is in question.

Miller has been out for the majority of training camp due to a viral illness, and according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, there is now speculation that Miller will be out for next week's opener against Villanova.

Temple head coach Steve Addazio told the paper that Miller was fine, and that he could resume practicing as early as Friday -- giving him a week's preparation for the opener.

“I’m feeling good, right now,” Miller told Pompey. “I’m getting in the groove of things. I’m working out right now. So I feel good.”

Miller (6-5, 210) didn't exactly set the world on fire a season ago, catching 18 balls for 253 yards and three scores. The rest of the Owls' returning WRs combined to make just five catches. In addition, Temple lost another receiver, Malcolm Eugene, who quit the team Monday.

Luckily for the Owls there haven't been any dings to their running tandem of Montel Harris and Matt Brown, who figure to carry the offensive load -- at least in the opener.

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