Tuel’s status still unknown
Calf, shoulder injuries being evaluated
PULLMAN – Quarterback Jeff Tuel did not attend Monday night’s Washington State football practice and his status for Saturday’s game at Oregon is still not determined.
Tuel, who fractured his left clavicle Sept. 5, in the season opener vs. Idaho State, re-aggravated that injury in last Saturday’s 44-21 loss to Oregon State in Seattle. He also suffered a previously undisclosed right calf injury early in that contest.
Both injuries were examined Monday evening and Tuel’s status should be clearer today, WSU coach Paul Wulff said.
“We’re still waiting to see exactly where he’s at,” Wulff said. “We should have a definite (today).”
As of Monday night, Wulff said, fifth-year senior Marshall Lobbestael is the starter until Tuel’s status is clarified.
“We’re just trying to figure out where we need to go with it,” Wulff said of Tuel’s injuries.
Tuel probably suffered the calf injury on a 10-yard run on the game’s fifth snap, a play on which the quarterback turned the wrong way and had to scramble through the hole.
Five plays later, facing a fourth-and-2 on the OSU 24, WSU called for Tuel to run, but had to call time out when the quarterback felt he couldn’t do it due to the leg injury.
After the time out, Carl Winston’s run up the middle was stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
Despite the calf problem, Tuel still finished 11-of-13 passing for 127 yards and one touchdown. He was also sacked three times.
Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris was cited Monday for several infractions, including driving on a suspended license and driving without insurance.
Ducks coach Chip Kelly responded by suspending Harris from the team pending further review of the incident. During the suspension, Harris will not be able to take part in any football-related activities.
Eugene police say that Harris was stopped on a city street after an officer noted he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, for which he was also cited.
He faces fines in excess of $952 for the citations. The car he was driving, which police say belongs to a relative, was impounded.
Harris was also ticketed in June by Oregon State Police for driving 118 mph on Interstate 5 on a suspended license. He was suspended indefinitely following that infraction and missed the opener against LSU.