BYU quarterback may miss regular season finale

In the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game at San Jose State, Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Riley Nelson was visibly in a lot of pain. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall explained Monday that Nelson may miss the Cougars’ final regular season game Saturday, November 24 at New Mexico State.

Team trainers were tending to Nelson constantly between offensive series in the fourth quarter Saturday night. On Monday, Nelson did not practice.

Said Mendenhall, “He’s hurt. Hopefully he’ll be back by the game, but he got pounded against San Jose State. He took a lot of shots. He didn’t practice today.”

BYU’s head trainer Jeff Hurst said Nelson’s playing status was “day to day.”

The diagnosis on Nelson is a little vague. It was described as an injury to the spot where the rib attaches to the cartilage.

Mendenhall was hesitant to give a percentage chance that Nelson would play on Saturday.

He explained, “I don’t know enough about it. I’ll probably know more and more as the week goes. For him to be out today is pretty significant, because the guy doesn’t miss many.”

Based on Nelson’s track record, it would be surprising if he does not start at New Mexico State. In 2011, he returned from a rib and lung injury faster than anyone could have imagined. Earlier this year, Nelson started two games after suffering fractured vertebrae in his back. At that time, he told reporters the only way he would not suit up and play for any game was if the coaches told him he could not.

Although he was hurting, Nelson completed 11 of 19 passes for 139 yards and 1 touchdown in the final nine minutes of the game. With a week of rest, Nelson will be feeling much better. If team trainers and doctors didn’t tell the coaches he was unfit to play then, there is little reason to expect them to rule Nelson out this Saturday.

If Nelson does not start, senior James Lark will get his first career start.

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