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Provo • If there was ever a time for BYU backup quarterback Tanner Mangum to get some meaningful snaps in a game this season, it is probably on Saturday against Southern Utah.

The Cougars' coaches sent mixed signals on Monday about whether that will happen, however.

Head coach Kalani Sitake said they "will talk about it a little bit more … and we will see what happens."

Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer said he would "love to bring Tanner in for some meaningful time at some point in the game."

That said, both coaches stressed that they are not taking SUU lightly, alluding to the Thunderbirds' 5-4 record and their success with many of the same players last year under Ed Lamb, who is now on 5-4 BYU's coaching staff.

"This is a big game for us, because we want to get to bowl eligibility [six wins]," Detmer said during his "Coordinators Corner" radio show. "These guys can play. They played with Utah. It was a tight game most of the game. … It is going to be a tough game."

Utah, 7-2 and ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press Top 25, defeated SUU 24-0 in a season-opener in Salt Lake City.

Another issue may be Hill's health. The senior ran 12 times for 75 yards and a touchdown in his ninth straight start of the season, Saturday's 20-3 win over Cincinnati. He played the entire game, but had a big ice pack on his left shoulder when he came out of the locker room for postgame interviews.

"Coach Detmer's job is to control the offense, and coach it how he sees fit," Sitake said. "And we've communicated a bunch of things before the season, during the season, and even now, and his decisions that he makes will be something that I support."

Detmer said the plan has always been to try and get Mangum in every week, "and this week is no different." Because the returned missionary is already 23 and eyeing a future in professional football, Mangum told coaches at the beginning of the year that he didn't want to redshirt. The redshirt-that-never-was came off in the waning moments of the 31-14 win over Michigan State.

"We are getting to that point in the season where we need to get some of our backups in and get them some playing time," Detmer said. "But the game will dictate some of that, too. I have told Taysom to, you know, be alert, [because] there may be a point in the game where we could put Tanner in for a series and give him a shot. We will just see how the game is going."

Sitake didn't talk about Hill's condition Monday, but did say that freshman cornerback Austin McChesney suffered a season-ending knee injury on a Cincinnati kickoff return.

"It is unfortunate. He is going to require surgery," Sitake said. "But man, he was playing great football, and got a pick. He won't be back this year."

Running back Squally Canada sprained his left thumb during the game and was taken to the locker room briefly in the fourth quarter, but returned. It was in a protective brace Monday.

"We are planning on having Squally back this weekend," Sitake said. "There are some other guys who are still kind of wait and see."

One of those is senior running back Jamaal Williams, who also left the game for awhile in the second half favoring an ankle. He finished with 92 yards on 25 carries.

"I thought he was close to 100 percent, and then he had a couple issues with that leg," Sitake said. "But we will work with it and see how he progresses. Obviously, he is not feeling as great as he should on Monday. But maybe by the time we hit Thursday or Friday [he will be OK]. He is going to have to practice for us to play him, though, so we will see how it goes."

Twitter: @drewjay —

Tanner Mangum in 2015

Games Effic. Comp-Att-Int Pct. Yds TDs Avg

13 136.0 267-446-10 59.9 3,377 23 259.8

Taysom Hill in 2016

Games Effic. Comp-Att-Int Pct. Yds TDs Avg

9 113.56 172-292-8 58.9 1,737 9 193.0

Southern Utah at BYU

Saturday, 1 p.m.

TV • KBYU