Zach Wilson Making Progress Towards Being Cleared For Idaho State

PROVO, Utah – The last five games for BYU haven’t featured the same starting quarterback in two consecutive games. So it begs the question, who’s going to start at quarterback this week for the Cougars?

This should be the week that sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson returns to his post as the Cougars starter. Wilson has been sidelined since a September 28th loss at Toledo due to a thumb injury he suffered while attempting to tackle a Rocket defender.

Last Saturday against Liberty, Wilson dressed and participated in pregame warmups with the team. He’s ahead of schedule in his recovery from the thumb injury and all signs point to Wilson being cleared this week to play against Idaho State.

BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes on BYUtv’s Coordinators’ Corner was asked if Wilson could be cleared this week, Grimes replied, “Yes.”

Is Zach Wilson automatically the starter if cleared?

Grimes: "I think that's a tough thing to speak against given how well he's played, his volume of work, and the fact that he had been the clear-cut starter prior to that. But we haven't really discussed that as a staff." #BYU

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 11, 2019

Will he return to being BYU’s starting quarterback asked Wrubell?

“I think that’s a tough thing to speak against given how well he’s played, his volume of work, and the fact that he had been the clear proven starter prior to that,” said Grimes. “But we really haven’t discussed that as a staff yet and he hasn’t really practiced yet, this would be the week to find that out.”

Wilson will be quarterback one when he is cleared to play against Idaho State. In five starts this season, Wilson threw for 1,312 yards and five touchdowns, along with four interceptions on a 62-percent completion rate. Those stats came against one of the toughest five-game stretches nationally in college football to open the year.

#BYU head coach Kalani Sitake discussed QB Zach Wilson and what he expects his availability to be this week against Idaho State. #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/X8w2vmrMQf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 11, 2019

“If he’s cleared to go, then let’s go and let’s see what happens,” said head coach Kalani Sitake when asked by KSL Sports about Wilson at his weekly press conference. “I think that Baylor (Romney) has done some good things but I’ll leave it up to ‘A-Rod’ (Aaron Roderick) and Grimes and those guys to figure out which gives us the best chance for victory.”

Baylor Romney has closed out the last four games for BYU, helping the Cougars go 3-1 in those games. In the last three games, the Cougars have taken on a more aggressive approach with the playcalling, which should allow for bigger numbers for Wilson upon his return.

The expectation for Wilson was to always return this season after having surgery. Having played in five games this year, Wilson isn’t eligible for a redshirt season so it only made sense to come back once he was cleared. This week looks to be that week for Wilson to make his return.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.