Auburn cornerback Keionte Scott appears ready to return to play Saturday against Ole Miss after his ankle injury and surgery following Auburn’s Sept. 16 win over Samford.

Scott quickly progressed from being in a boot and wheeling around the football facility on a scooter to walking on a boot and then recently, the boot off entirely. He participated in full in a practice session open to reporters on Tuesday.

He then warmed up in full pads before Auburn’s game Saturday night.

Scott was Auburn’s top punt returner before the injury. He came out after the punt returners for warm ups but did join in with them when he came out.

It’s unclear if he will start in his first game back healthy. But it is a win for Auburn to get one of its best defensive leaders to return to the lineup at all.

Linebacker Austin Keys also appears to be ready to play for Auburn. When he walked onto the field for Tiger Walk, he yelled “I’m back,” and then went through regular warm up drills.

Keys also was back to practice this week, but did so in a non-contact jersey.

Keys had surgery on his thumb after Auburn’s season opener against UMass. He started that game, but had been seen practicing separately as he recovered from his injury since the UMass game in early September. Tuesday was the first time he had been seen back playing with the rest of the team.

Keys transferred to Auburn from Ole Miss this past winter.

Running back Damari Alston appears to be out again after not taking part in pregame warm up drills.

Alston also practiced in a yellow non-contact jersey this week due to the shoulder injury he picked up against Texas A&M on Sept. 23. He also wore the same non-contact jersey last week in practice and did not play against LSU.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]