PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -Washington State quarterback Gary Rogers won’t play college football again, but was able to walk out of the hospital a day after breaking a bone in his spine.
The fifth-year senior was hurt on a late hit during the Cougars’ 48-9 win over Portland State on Saturday that fractured a cervical vertebra but did not require surgery.
The team says his expected recovery time is three to four months.
Rogers retained feeling in his extremities during the 15 minutes he was on the ground before taken off by ambulance, Cougars coach Paul Wulff said.
There is no spinal cord or neurological damage and Rogers is expected to get his strength and range of motion back, WSU trainer Bill Drake said.
Wulff visited with Rogers and his family Saturday night and said Rogers was “obviously disappointed and sad, but thankful, too.”
Wulff said the hit on Rogers was not flagrant.
n’t necessary. That’s all I can say. It wasn’t an actual cheap shot, it was just a late hit.”
Rogers spent three years as the backup to Alex Brink before winning the starting job this year. But he had been coming off the bench the past two games after the offense failed to click.
Rogers had gone in after starter Kevin Lopina left before halftime with a deep bruise on his throwing shoulder and didn’t return.
Freshman Marshall Lobbestael is preparing in case Lopina can’t start on Saturday against Oregon.
Lobbestael took all the snaps at Sunday’s practice as the Cougars (1-3) began preparing for Oregon on Saturday. He threw for touchdowns on his first two pass attempts Saturday and completed nine of 12 passes for 149 yards.
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