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Provo • The season-ending injury that BYU quarterback Taysom Hill sustained in the second quarter of Friday's 35-20 loss to Utah State is worse than originally feared, coach Bronco Mendenhall said in his weekly press briefing Monday morning.
Doctors originally diagnosed a fractured left leg and said the junior who was a fringe Heisman Trophy candidate would be out 4-6 months. During Saturday morning's surgery, they found more extensive damage, Mendenhall said.
"I don't know the exactness of it, other than it was two hours worth of surgery, one plate, eight screws, every major ligament shredded. So significant. … They knew it was bad, but when they got in it was worse," Mendenhall said.
He offered no new timetable for Hill's return.
Senior Christian Stewart will start at quarterback for the Cougars (4-1) against Central Florida (2-2) on Thursday night in Orlando (5:30 p.m., ESPN).
Mendenhall expressed confidence in Stewart and said he was "pressing too much" in the second half of the loss to Utah State when he threw three interceptions and completed just 10 of 29 passes.
But the coach acknowledged that Hill's unique abilities cannot be replaced.
"I think there was a level of confidence. I wouldn't say dependence," Mendenhall said when asked about how much the Cougars leaned on Hill this season. "In confidence, meaning that no matter what the situation Taysom is in, he could pull it down and make two guys miss and do a hurdle or whatever. He will scramble his way to a first down, get his head down and get us a first down.
So there was always just a confidence that we will never be out of a game."
Regarding the other injuries the Cougars suffered Friday, Mendenhall said the setbacks suffered by linebacker Alani Fua, offensive lineman Brayden Kearsley and safety Dallin Leavitt are all "high-ankle sprains" and said he doesn't know if the players are "probable, hopeful or doubtful."
Later, a BYU spokesperson said Kearsley's injury is the worst of the three and he's least likely to play on Thursday. Fua and Leavitt "could play," said Brett Pyne of BYU's sports information office.
Linebacker Mike Alisa took a blow to the head early in the game and did not return. He is still being evaluated.
Also Monday, it was announced that BYU's Oct. 18 game against Nevada at LaVell Edwards Stadium will begin at 8:15 p.m. MDT and will be televised by ESPN2.
Twitter: @drewjay