Injuries continue to plague Cougars

PULLMAN – Battered by two consecutive football losses, the Cougars also have the misfortune of being bruised as well going into Saturday’s Apple Cup.

Injuries have been an issue of significant influence on this 2006 season, and barring a miraculous turn of events they’ll have a similar effect this week.

Senior linebacker Scott Davis has a broken wrist, sustained Saturday night against Arizona State, but thanks to a splint and a soft cast he is expected to practice this week and to play against Washington on Saturday as the 6-5 Cougars try to seal a bowl bid.

Davis is far from the only Cougar limping into (or out of) the regular season’s final game.

Wide receiver Chris Jordan does not have a torn ACL as initially feared, but the senior did strain the same left knee that has been problematic for years. He is out for the week, and there is at least a reasonable chance this latest injury will be career-ending given its timing.

Fellow wideouts Jason Hill and Michael Bumpus are more than a week removed from high ankle sprains, and both were out of protective boots Monday. But Bumpus is much further along than Hill, and will attempt to practice this afternoon, although his status for the week remains questionable. Hill said he’ll try to jog Wednesday, but unless he can run by Thursday it’s unlikely he would suit up against UW.

“It’ll definitely be cutting it close, but if it was up to me, man, Wednesday is a good start,” Hill said.

At defensive tackle, the Cougars could be getting two players back but it’s not without losing another. Aaron Johnson, playing with a sprained right elbow, sprained his left elbow against the Sun Devils and is out for this week. But Ropati Pitoitua, out for three weeks with a knee sprain, will practice this week and should be able to play. And Feveae’i Ahmu, lost in the team’s second Pac-10 game to a broken foot, should practice on a limited basis and might be available.

Head coach Bill Doba has still more injuries to worry about, though. Running backs DeMaundray Woolridge and Derrell Hutsona are also battling medical issues. Woolridge’s stinger got progressively worse late last week and caused him to miss the trip to Arizona State and most likely will keep him out this week as well. Hutsona’s ankle sprain, suffered in late October, has his status up in the air as well.

“Guys are getting more beat up and more beat up,” Hill said. “Guys are injured. It’s killing us, not having a bye week.”