NAU hopeful injured Cookus will return this season

(STATS) - Northern Arizona sophomore quarterback Case Cookus' shoulder injury hasn't been ruled as being season-ending, but coach Jerome Souers says his struggling team is braced for the long term.

Souers said during the Big Sky Conference's weekly coaches teleconference on Wednesday that Cookus is sidelined indefinitely. East Carolina transfer Blake Kemp will make his second consecutive start on Saturday when Northern Arizona (1-4, 0-2), the preseason favorite in the Big Sky, visits Montana State (2-3, 0-2).

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"When I say indefinitely, we don't really know exactly, but it is for a longer period of time," Souers said. "Until the medical team that's working with Case can establish his healing protocol and when it would be safe for him to return, are we going to know better."

Cookus was the 2015 STATS FCS Freshman of the Year, throwing for an FCS freshman-record 37 touchdown passes.

He was injured against Eastern Washington on Sept. 24. In four games, he is 80 of 119 for 1,173 yards and 13 touchdowns against one interception, with a 184.4 passing efficiency rating.

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