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Washington State’s Kyle Sweet honoring fellow slotback by wearing No. 15 on left arm this season

Washington State Cougars wide receiver Robert Lewis (15) hauls in a pass for a first down agains UW during the first half of the 2016 Apple Cup on Friday, Nov 25, 2016, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584

PULLMAN – Robert Lewis’ senior season was cut short because of an undisclosed leg injury, but Washington State fans will still see his No. 15 streaking across the field on gameday this year.

Kyle Sweet, a fellow slotback at Washington State, is honoring Lewis by wearing the redshirt senior’s number on his left arm this season. If you look closely, you can see the No. 15 smeared across Sweet’s left bicep in black Sharpie this afternoon as the Cougars host Oregon State in a Pac-12 Conference opener at 2:30 p.m.

Lewis hasn’t played in a game for the Cougars this season.

“I’ve played with him for 2 1/2 years and gotten to know him and he’s one of my good friends,” Sweet said on Tuesday. “It’s just a bummer that his season got cut short, so it’s kind of a little tribute to him.”

Added Sweet: “It’ll probably be on there every game, so look out for that.”

Lewis was supposed to start at “H” receiver for the Cougars this season after hauling in 33 passes for 394 yards in 2016. He hasn’t practiced with the team since hobbling off the field during WSU’s second fall scrimmage. True freshman Renard Bell has started at “H” for WSU all three games this season.