Swogger practices, status questionable

PULLMAN — Two more days, no more answers for Washington State at quarterback.

Starter Josh Swogger, who partially tore the posterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s win against Idaho, was able to participate in much of practice on Tuesday but remains questionable at best to play in the Pac-10 opener at Arizona this week.

“We’re going to take it day by day,” Swogger said. “I think it’s a game-time decision right now – that’s what I’m told.”

The sophomore captain went through Tuesday’s session with the knee taped and in a brace, measures which Swogger said made a remarkable difference.

“I was more mobile than I thought I would be,” Swogger said. “I thought I’d be pretty stiff out there, but I was actually pretty mobile in my drops. It felt a little more stable than it used to because of the brace and the taping.

“Thankfully there’s not too much swelling, there’s not too much reaction in my knee. It’s just a partial tear and we’ll take it from there.”

While an MRI taken on Sunday was not completely conclusive as far as the extent of the damage, Swogger said the ligament has suffered between a 30- and 80-percent tear.

The PCL is not nearly as important in most athletic endeavors as the ACL or MCL, and many have been able to play football with the ligament fully torn or partially torn. But in Swogger’s case there is a risk that the partial tear could become a full tear. And while even that may not be an injury that requires a long rehabilitation, it’s possible that the risk is too great for the Cougars’ liking.

“He’ll practice (today) and Thursday and just see how he feels,” said head coach Bill Doba, who said he’s more optimistic now than he was 48 hours earlier. “We’ll probably have to wait to see how he warms up because right now he has very little pain and very little swelling.

“After the ballgame, everyone was (thinking) this is a torn thing and it might be a long time. But when he came in on Sunday morning it was a lot tighter than they thought it would be.”

Should Swogger sit out Saturday’s game, redshirt freshman Alex Brink would get his first career start. Brink has played in the last two non-conference games, and said he is ready to go this week should the Cougars need him.

“I’m not exactly sure what’s going to happen, and I don’t know where we’re at, so I have to prepare like I’m the guy so I’m ready just in case,” Brink said. “Otherwise you’re left behind and you can’t do that in the Pac-10 season.”

WSU reacts

Cougar players expressed shock and sorrow over the shooting death of Idaho redshirt freshman Eric McMillan this weekend.

“I just feel really bad,” said WSU right tackle Sam Lightbody, a senior captain. “You think of this area as being a relatively safe area, and never enters the back of your mind that you ever have to worry about that kind of situation happening. When it does, it’s a shock to the whole community. Especially for a team like Idaho. All of us know each other and we’re all really close.”

The Cougars defeated Idaho 49-8 Saturday night, just one day before McMillan was shot in his apartment. Two Seattle men are in custody and face charges of first-degree murder in connection with the case.

“Being so close together, it’s like it could have happened to us,” Lightbody said. “It was hard watching the (game) film and knowing he wasn’t there.”

Injury update

While defensive captains Will Derting and Hamza Abdullah have both been able to play every game this season with casts covering their left wrists, some respite is in sight.

Trainer Bill Drake said this week’s game at Arizona ought to be the last for each one in a cast. After that, both players are expected to wear a heavy splint that would allow more flexibility.

Drake surmised that Abdullah – who tore a ligament in his thumb – might be out of the splint by November. But Derting, who dislocated his wrist in mid-August, would likely finish the year in the splint.

Cornerback Tyron Brackenridge, who has missed the last two games with a strained hamstring, rejoined practice on Tuesday, though his game status remains uncertain.