UNLV Rebels quarterback Blake Decker (5) carries the ball during UNLV’s home opener against the Northern Colorado Bears at Sam Boyd Stadium Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.
Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 | 3:30 p.m.
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If the UNLV football team played a game today, junior quarterback Blake Decker wouldn’t be in the lineup, Rebels coach Bobby Hauck said.
Decker was sacked five times last week in a loss to Air Force and was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter after being awkwardly tackled.
Decker isn’t expected to practice today or Tuesday. He should return, though, by the middle of the week and could be ready for Saturday’s game at BYU.
“He is banged up. That is an understatement,” Hauck said today during his weekly press conference. “If we had to play today, he wouldn’t be ready to go. I am hoping by midweek he is ready to practice. He can’t play without practicing.”
If Decker is unable to go against BYU, redshirt freshman Jared Lebowitz would again be called into action. Lebowitz saw his first significant action against Air Force, completing 3 of 12 passes for 18 yards.
“He did some good things on Saturday in terms of decision making,” Hauck said. “He has to make the throws when he is asked to.”
The BYU game should have extra significance for Decker. His college career started in 2009 as a walk-on at BYU. He never saw action for the Cougars, serving a two-year church mission and playing at a junior college in Arizona. He’s thrown for nine touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 10 starts for UNLV.
“We’ll get him out there (to practice) on the nonpadded days,” Hauck said.
Lebowitz was the surprise replacement to Decker against Air Force. Junior Nick Sherry, who had starts in the past two seasons, was listed as the backup on the depth chart.
Regardless of who is under center, the UNLV receivers will be ready.
“With the amount of work we put in this offseason with all three quarterbacks, it won’t be a big adjustment for the receivers to catch from Jared,” said Devante Davis, UNLV’s senior receiver who returned after five games Saturday and caught his 21st career touchdown.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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