I see a lot of questions like the one wasris asked .... the rule is very simple: a player (not just a freshman) can play in any four games or fewer, and still retain his redshirt. Doesn't matter what four games they are, or when they are, including bowl games (which have "counted" since about 2003). Doesn't matter if the coaches are "planning" on redshirting the player. Doesn't matter if the player is coming off an injury or not. It's four games or fewer.