Sources: Utah QB Rising (hand) game-time call

3 hours ago 1
  • Pete Thamel, ESPNSep 21, 2024, 09:11 AM ET

Utah quarterback Cam Rising is a game-time decision with an injury to his throwing hand, sources told ESPN, with the expectation that he'll attempt to start.

No. 12 Utah plays at No. 14 Oklahoma State on Saturday, one of the biggest games of the season in the Big 12.

Rising has been limited in practice this week with the injury, and he's not expected to be 100 percent if he does play. He'll be monitored closely to see how his injured fingers impact how he throws. The fingers play a huge role in both spin and velocity, which will impact his effectiveness in the pass game.

Rising warmed up with a glove on his hand before the game against Utah State on Saturday and was spotted with two fingers wrapped on the sideline at the Baylor game. It's uncertain if he'll use the glove on Saturday. Utah's offense plays a majority of its snaps under center and uses clapping as a mechanism in its snapping operation, which would both stress the fingers.

Backup quarterback Isaac Wilson is a true freshman who made his first career start against Utah State. He took first-team reps in practice this week when Rising wasn't out there. Wilson went 20-of-33 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns.

Wilson is the brother of former BYU star quarterback Zach Wilson, who now plays in the NFL for the Denver Broncos.

Rising is a seventh-year senior who had emerged as one of the Pac-12's top quarterbacks in 2021 and 2022. He has been snakebit by injuries in recent seasons, as an injury in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season ultimately led to him missing the entire 2023 season.

Rising injured his hand against Baylor in a freak accident in the second quarter where he threw a ball away and was pushed out of bounds and landed awkwardly on the water coolers on the Baylor sideline.

He dressed for the Utah State game and warmed up with the glove.

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