Utah quarterback Brian Johnson wants to play in Saturday's game at UNLV.
It's been nearly three weeks since he separated his throwing shoulder in the first half of a season-opening 24-7 loss at Oregon State. The injury brought an abrupt interruption to Johnson's comeback from knee surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2006 campaign.
The junior is eager to get back on the field.
"Without question. I want to play," Johnson said. "It's just a matter of how my body responds."
Johnson is taking reps in practice this week to determine if he can reclaim his starting job when the Utes face the Rebels.
"I think the main thing is I've been making progress every day and I haven't had a setback," Johnson said. "So as long as I continue to keep getting better every day, then I should be back pretty soon."
An exact timetable, however, won't been revealed.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has no plans to make an announcement.
"It's pointless asking me. It'll be a game-day decision," he said after practice Tuesday ? the first of two heavy work days where Johnson will be evaluated. "He looked good. He's getting better. He's on the mend."
"Better than yesterday," Whittingham added while acknowledging that Johnson isn't where he needs to be with his long throws ? though progress is being made.
A week ago, Whittingham didn't think there was any chance Johnson would be ready to play.
Things have changed.
"He took reps today. He looked OK. He looked pretty good," Whittingham noted. "... He's made a lot of progress."
Johnson, who is wearing an extra protective pad on his shoulder, agrees.
"If I keep progressing at the rate that I have been, then I'll be on the field Saturday," he said before declining to put odds on his possible return. "I don't know. We'll have to wait and see. It's just Tuesday now. That decision will be made a couple of days down the road."
Johnson did acknowledge, however, that he'd have to be sold on the idea of sitting out another game ? although evaluating this week's practice film will help him accept whatever decision is made.
After senior Tommy Grady and freshman Corbin Louks quarterbacked Utah to a 44-6 win over UCLA last Saturday, Whittingham said the Utes can be conservative when it comes to bringing Johnson back.
Watching Grady and Louks succeed last week wasn't difficult for Johnson.
"It wasn't hard at all. We're close. We're like family," Johnson said. "When they have success, I have success. When I have success, they have success.
"There's nothing personal about the entire situation. We've just got to make sure we've got healthy guys out there to play," he continued.
Regardless of when Johnson returns, Utah's offense will employ a new wrinkle at quarterback. Louks, a true freshman, will be in the rotation ? having special packages designed around his talents, something similar to what Eric Weddle did last season.
Johnson welcomes the addition.
"It's huge and it's proven it works," he said. "Florida did the same thing last year with Tim Tebow. He's a nice change-up for us."
Louks, who saw his first collegiate action last week against UCLA, is glad to be in the mix.
"A redshirt would have been nice to learn it all. But hey, I'm ready to play," Louks said. "I'm going to do all I can. The offense is going to do all we can to move the ball and put points on the board."
It's been nearly three weeks since he separated his throwing shoulder in the first half of a season-opening 24-7 loss at Oregon State. The injury brought an abrupt interruption to Johnson's comeback from knee surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2006 campaign.
The junior is eager to get back on the field.
"Without question. I want to play," Johnson said. "It's just a matter of how my body responds."
Johnson is taking reps in practice this week to determine if he can reclaim his starting job when the Utes face the Rebels.
"I think the main thing is I've been making progress every day and I haven't had a setback," Johnson said. "So as long as I continue to keep getting better every day, then I should be back pretty soon."
An exact timetable, however, won't been revealed.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has no plans to make an announcement.
"It's pointless asking me. It'll be a game-day decision," he said after practice Tuesday ? the first of two heavy work days where Johnson will be evaluated. "He looked good. He's getting better. He's on the mend."
"Better than yesterday," Whittingham added while acknowledging that Johnson isn't where he needs to be with his long throws ? though progress is being made.
A week ago, Whittingham didn't think there was any chance Johnson would be ready to play.
Things have changed.
"He took reps today. He looked OK. He looked pretty good," Whittingham noted. "... He's made a lot of progress."
Johnson, who is wearing an extra protective pad on his shoulder, agrees.
"If I keep progressing at the rate that I have been, then I'll be on the field Saturday," he said before declining to put odds on his possible return. "I don't know. We'll have to wait and see. It's just Tuesday now. That decision will be made a couple of days down the road."
Johnson did acknowledge, however, that he'd have to be sold on the idea of sitting out another game ? although evaluating this week's practice film will help him accept whatever decision is made.
After senior Tommy Grady and freshman Corbin Louks quarterbacked Utah to a 44-6 win over UCLA last Saturday, Whittingham said the Utes can be conservative when it comes to bringing Johnson back.
Watching Grady and Louks succeed last week wasn't difficult for Johnson.
"It wasn't hard at all. We're close. We're like family," Johnson said. "When they have success, I have success. When I have success, they have success.
"There's nothing personal about the entire situation. We've just got to make sure we've got healthy guys out there to play," he continued.
Regardless of when Johnson returns, Utah's offense will employ a new wrinkle at quarterback. Louks, a true freshman, will be in the rotation ? having special packages designed around his talents, something similar to what Eric Weddle did last season.
Johnson welcomes the addition.
"It's huge and it's proven it works," he said. "Florida did the same thing last year with Tim Tebow. He's a nice change-up for us."
Louks, who saw his first collegiate action last week against UCLA, is glad to be in the mix.
"A redshirt would have been nice to learn it all. But hey, I'm ready to play," Louks said. "I'm going to do all I can. The offense is going to do all we can to move the ball and put points on the board."
