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Provo • As he always does as a running quarterback, BYU's Riley Nelson took a lot of tough, hard hits in Saturday night's 24-21 loss at the University of Utah.

But after the Cougars practiced Monday, Nelson and coach Bronco Mendenhall both said the senior is fine and not still feeling the ill effects of the hit to the back that he suffered against Weber State.

"My back is feeling really good, thank you. And no, it is not [limiting his movement]," Nelson said.

There were radio and Internet reports last week that Nelson might be injured more than BYU was letting on.

"Full go," Mendenhall said of Nelson's status for Thursday's game at Boise State (7 p.m., ESPN). "He ran with the ones today and he got hit a bunch hard in the [Utah] game, but he's ready to go."

Was there ever a time when Nelson felt limited physically against the Utes?

"Nope," he repeated.

Reynolds outfor season

Nelson may be OK, but junior offensive lineman Houston Reynolds is not. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon against Utah and is out for the season. Mendenhall said Reynolds will have surgery next week, but not sooner because he has three tests in classes this week.

Among other players that were on the two-deep chart in camp, linebacker Zac Stout remains out with Achilles tendon issues and defensive end Ian Dulan still has not played due to back problems.

Sunday play stance

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, tongue in cheek, perhaps, wondered after the rivalry game that ended just before midnight what would have happened if it had gone to overtime. Would BYU have continued to play on Sunday, wondered the former Cougar linebacker?

The answer, in case anyone out there seriously thinks the Cougars might have quit, is yes.

"Obviously, BYU's policy is that we will not schedule and play games on Sunday," said Duff Tittle, BYU associate athletic director for communications. "If a game begins on Saturday and goes past the 12 o'clock hour, we will complete the game."

Tittle said there have been a couple of instances in the past where games have gone into Sunday, and BYU's policy has been in place "for a long time."

Briefly

Mendenhall said freshman running back Jamaal Williams has progressed up the depth chart — he had eight carries for 30 yards and a touchdown against Utah — because he was "impressive" during camp and has shown "a natural progression" in the first three games. ... Nelson said the Cougars had no problem moving on from the Utah loss. "It is like when you accidentally drink vinegar and you are expecting it to be water. You want to spit it out as quick as possible," he said.

drew@sltrib.comTwitter: @drewjay —

BYU at Boise State

P Thursday, 7 p.m.

TV • ESPN