Three days after Andy Roesch watched the fourth quarter wearing a sling and ice pack, it is unknown whether the Ball State quarterback's right shoulder will allow him to play Saturday at Pittsburgh.
Trainers told Roesch after the Missouri game that he had suffered a slight separation of that shoulder. He injured it on the Cardinals' second offensive series of second half.
"I dove and landed on my shoulder, and the defender fell on top of it," Roesch said after the game. "It's nothing major. I'll just take it day-to-day."
And day-to-day seems to be how head coach Brady Hoke is also taking Roesch's injury. Hoke said he will know later in the week whether he will start Roesch or fellow fifth-year senior and former starter Talmadge Hill.
"The trainers told me was better today than he was yesterday," Hoke said of Roesch. "It's one of those things that's an ongoing process and evaluation. We'll just take it one day at a time."
If summoned, Hill has experience. He started 23 consecutive games, including the first five in 2002, before being replaced by Roesch. Against Missouri, Hill popped off the bench and completed eight of 12 passes for 89 yards.
Hill said that even while Roesch has been the starter, he always prepares as if he's the starter. That mentality will help this week, with such uncertainty in the air.
"It'll be different because I'm assuming I'll get more reps (in practice)," Hill said, "which is good because you always want to get as many reps as you can to figure out the game plan.
"I'll get an opportunity to work with the ones (first-team offense) more than I have the past two weeks, which is real important for how you prepare. I'm going to watch just as much film, if not more. I'm just going to prepare like I had previously, when I was the starter."
Also against Missouri, junior left guard Jeff Ramsey twisted an ankle in the second period and was replaced by redshirt freshman Ryan Steele. Ramsey is also listed as day-to-day.
"We'll know more about him Tuesday," said Hoke, whose team does not practice on Mondays. "Hopefully on Wednesday he'll be able to go and do some things."
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