PROVO — An already tough situation just got tougher for BYU's struggling defensive secondary.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall announced Monday that starting cornerback Scott Johnson will miss the next three games — the remainder of the regular season — with a double groin tear suffered during the Cougars' 45-42 win at Colorado State.
"He was on his back and both knees were kind of out and one (CSU) player hit this way and one (CSU) player hit that way," Mendenhall explained. "Both (groins) were torn, one on each side. I don't know if we could reconstruct that if he were to play 10 more years ... If you see it on film, it's one of those you don't really like to watch."
Johnson could return to action in time for a bowl game, depending on when it is, according to Mendenhall.
Junior Andrew Rich could take Johnson's place at boundary corner, which is similar to the safety position, Mendenhall said. Rich made his first career start last week at safety for an injured David Tafuna, who should be ready for this week's game against San Diego State.
Addressing Johnson's impact on the secondary, Mendenhall said Johnson is a player that has demonstrated "grit and determination." Rich has shown similar qualities, the coach added. "Maybe a similar type of person in a little bit different body.
"Certainly, we'll miss Scott. I hate to see anybody get hurt the way he was hurt ... He's one that I think will do everything he can to support our team while he is sidelined. I think he'll still have an impact that way."
Another cornerback, Brandon Bradley, sustained a shin contusion against CSU, but he is expected to play Saturday.
Mendenhall added that there's a possibility that Tafuna and Kellen Fowler could also play at boundary corner while there are other options he and his staff will consider. Third-string safety Steven Thomas was switched to cornerback last week after G Pittman's decision to transfer. Due to injuries, Thomas played late in the CSU game.
Certainly, Johnson's presence with the Cougar defense will be missed.
"It's a big loss for us. Scott was our lock-down corner," said linebacker David Nixon. "He was having a great year. But we're going to have to move guys around, make adjustments and go from there."
Johnson, at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, "isn't the biggest player," said Mendenhall, but the secondary relied on him heavily. "But we knew physically there was a risk that over time, he might not be able to sustain the volume from beginning to end. Unfortunately, it was a pretty unique injury the way it happened."
COLLIE NOT PUSHED OUT: Wide receiver Austin Collie appeared to have hauled in a 66-yard touchdown pass on BYU's first play from scrimmage in the CSU game, but the TD was nullified because officials ruled that Collie had gone out of bounds.
The Cougar coaching staff originally thought he had been pushed out by a Rams defender, but Mendenhall said Monday that was not the case.
"(Collie) went out on his own," Mendenhall said. "He was running an out cut and Max scrambled and (Collie) lost track of where he was when he went vertical. It wasn't by much."
MUST-SEE TV: Mendenhall and some of his players were asked if they plan on watching Thursday night's big TCU-Utah showdown on television.
Mendenhall said he'll be spending time with his wife, Holly. "Thursday night is date night. So we'll probably be at the movies."
For Pitta and quarterback Max Hall, their TV-viewing priority is "The Office," which they watch on Thursday nights. Both said they will watch some of the game, though.
Hall said he's not getting caught up in which team wins that contest, which features the only two teams that are still unbeaten in MWC play.
"Regardless of the outcome of the game, we're just going to focus on us and what we're doing and let everything else take care of itself," Hall said.
BYU on the air
San Diego State (1-8, 0-5) at No. 17 BYU (8-1, 4-1)
Saturday, noon
LaVell Edwards Stadium
TV: The mtn.
Radio: 1160AM, 102.7FM
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com