WSU Football | Injuries take toll on Sun Devils, Cougars

Washington State and Arizona State have suffered so many injuries this season that a Cougars assistant joked of their upcoming matchup, "It's going to be a good JV game."

He was being facetious but it captures one of the major subplots of Saturday night's game in Tempe.

And at ASU's practice Tuesday, a visitor suggested that the band play the theme song from "M*A*S*H" when the Sun Devils run out of the tunnel Saturday.

"We're both beat up," said WSU coach Bill Doba.

Arizona State had 40 players on its injury list at the start of the week and the Cougars had 17.

ASU coach Dirk Koetter said, "There are so many great things about college football. Injuries isn't one of them. Injuries are probably the worst thing about college football."

The Cougars have the latest headliner injuries. They are expected to be without star receivers Michael Bumpus and Jason Hill, both suffering from high ankle sprains. They also will be without starting defensive tackle Feveae'i Ahmu (foot fracture).

ASU has lost five starting offensive linemen for the year to injuries. Last week at Oregon State, they lost starting tackle Stephen Berg and wide receiver Nate Kimbrough to season-ending injuries.

Also listed out for Saturday is cornerback Rudy Burgess (high ankle sprain), linebacker Robert Lewis (concussion) and wide receiver Jamaal Lewis (continuing suspension).

With Bumpus and Hill not expected to play, Doba said Tuesday the Cougars are likely to use more two tight-end formations. He also said the Cougars may use more starters on special teams than in previous weeks.

"It's that time of the year when you have to start using your imagination a little bit and make sure you are getting the best possible players on the field," Doba said. "That's our goal."

While the loss of Bumpus and Hill deprives WSU of two of its best weapons, Doba said the Cougars have more depth at wide receiver than they did at defensive tackle when the top three players at that position were out.

"It's not like we have three receivers left on the football team," he said.

Among the productive healthy receivers are Brandon Gibson and Charles Dillon. Doba said he expects Chris Jordan (knee) to be able to play.

Starting defensive tackle Ropati Pitoitua (knee) practiced Tuesday for the first time in weeks. He is expected to see some action Saturday, which could enable the Cougars to use a 4-3 formation at times instead of relying on the 3-4. The Cougars got defensive tackle Aaron Johnson back last week.

The game has urgency for both the Cougars (6-4, 4-3) and the Sun Devils (5-4, 2-4).

"We need to win this game," Doba said. "We sure don't want to go into the Apple Cup needing a seventh win."

Although the Cougars are bowl-eligible with six wins, they aren't guaranteed a bowl. A seventh win would erase all doubt.

NOTES

• More WSU injury news: Running back DeMaundray Woolridge (shoulder), and starting guard Andy Roof (ankle) are expected to be able to play this week. Among key players not expected to play are kicker Loren Langley (thigh) and backup running back Derrell Hutsona (knee).

• The good injury news for ASU fans Tuesday was that starting running back Ryan Torain (ankle) is expected to be able to play.

• Koetter said film review showed that ASU receivers dropped eight passes in Saturday's 44-10 loss at Oregon State.

• The rain stopped at the start of Cougars practice Tuesday and resumed as practice was ending.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com