Broncos

Injury bug biting Broncos

Bryan Douglas out for season

By Paul Gerke

CREATED Oct. 29, 2012

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  • Boise State will be without several players this weekend and beyond. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com

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In accordance with the upcoming holiday, the weekend was full of tricks and treats for the Bronco football team. Boise State was treated to a jump in the latest BCS poll, since 7 of the top 15 teams in the country lost on Saturday. The trick? Injuries (and ineligible players) are starting to pile up, and the Broncos are running out of bodies.

Coach Chris Petersen announced Monday that tightend Hayden Plinke and safety Lee Hightower are still suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules. The pair missed Saturday's game and aren't practicing with the team.

Petersen also said cornerback Bryan Douglas will miss the rest of the season as the result of an ACL injury suffered Saturday against Wyoming. Petersen projects that Douglas' will be able to return no sooner than late in fall camp next year.

"It's tough because (Douglas) was doing such a great job. We really thought of him as a starting corner."

Redshirt freshman Darian Thompson replaced Douglas in the lineup against the Cowboys, and Coach Petersen confirmed that Thompson will do the same this Saturday.

"Darian has done great all season, and we've kind of thought of him as a starter as well... and he didn't disappoint."

Douglas wasn't the only Bronco injured in Laramie- Dextrell Simmons, Kharyee Marshall, and Greg Grimes were also banged up. Petersen said those three are day-to-day or week-to-week.

There has been some discussion about burning a redshirt to help fill in the holes at defensive back, but Petersen was adamant about not "burning" anything. He emphasized that if another freshman is allowed to play, he will see significant playing time. 

The good news is that the Broncos have some veterans in the secondary to help the young guys along.

"We just have to make sure we're all on the same page," explained senior Jamar Taylor.

"We have watch way more film with each other and communicate that much more. When you get young guys out there, they sometimes get a little nervous and a lot of things run through their heads. We just let them know... as long as you relax, you'll be okay."