This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Cougars practiced inside this Labor Day evening, and the good news for Cougar fans is that receiver Cody Hoffman was there practicing, looking nothing like the guy who hobbled off the field last Thursday in the 30-6 win over Washington State. Hoffman practiced for all but the final minutes, coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "He will be great by Saturday. ...It hurts mostly when he kind of slows down right now. But I think he will be fine by Saturday," Mendenhall said. Head athletic trainer Jeff Hurst met with reporters after practice for a full-scale injury report, and said that Hoffman has recovered well from the left quadriceps contusion. "Cody looks great. He ran around in practice today. That quad contusion, when it happens it inhibits the quad so significantly that he just couldn't get back to a point where he could play on [Thursday], but he got a lot of treatment over the weekend, I saw him quite a few times, and he came and ran and did pretty much everything today, pretty much until the end. He looks a lot better and said it feels tons better. It will keep getting that way every single day," Hurst said. Mendenhall and Hurst said the only player who certainly won't play Saturday against Weber State is backup defensive back Skye PoVey. He re-aggravated a foot injury in the game and will see a doctor about it Tuesday. "Skye hurt his foot, so he is going to see Dr. Fox, a foot specialist, tomorrow and we will get a feeling for how he will be ... he won't play this weekend," Hurst said. Here's Hurst on some other injuries: Safety Craig Bills (bell-ringer): "He came out today and practiced, looked pretty good. We will follow up tonight, but he will be a day-to-day guy this week, and we will see how he looks for Saturday." Receiver Marcus Mathews: "Not injured." Receiver Mitch Mathews: "Mitch has been dealing with a fractured clavicle that happened over the summer. So that's just in a process where it is looking better and better for him to practice every day. He said It feels great; now it is just getting him comfortable doing what he does." Offensive lineman Solomone Kafu (broken hand): "Kafu practiced today in a rubberized cast, said it felt really good. So he will be practicing in that." Tight end Devin Mahina (broken hand): "Mahina caught a ball during skelly today, looked really good, too. He said it feels fine. So they are healing well, and they will just be protected for games and practices." Bronco on Devin Mahina: "Could have probably played [Thursday] if he was able to practice, but he will be wearing the rubberized club, so we will see how he catches with that." Hurst on defensive back DeQuan Everett: "DeQuan hurt his back in the weight room, so he is just kind of a rehab guy right now. Nothing too significant, I think, but he's not able to go right now." Hurst on kicker Justin Sorensen: "He looked great. He was kicking a bunch of field goals today. He is just getting his timing down with the snapper and the holder. But he feels really good. His kickoffs looked great today and his field goals looked and felt great today, too." Hurst on DE/LB Ziggy Ansah: "Just kind of a shoulder strain. I wouldn't call it a stinger — just a shoulder strain." Bronco on Zac Stout (Achilles issues): "Wasn't out at practice today, but I think when I saw the report it was he is likely for Saturday." Bronco on receiver Dallin Cutler: "Not sure on Dallin." More from post-practice interviews tomorrow.