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West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene (6) rushes the ball against Kansas State during the frist half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/William Wotring)

MORGANTOWN – After the injury bug turned the West Virginia University football team into an all-you-can-eat buffet before and during Saturday’s loss to Kansas State, several key players on both offense and defense are either out for sure or it’s too early in the week to definitively announce their status for Saturday’s 7 p.m. game at Arizona (FS1).

Among the “too early to tell” crowd is starting quarterback Garrett Greene and left tackle Wyatt Milum. Neither returned to the Kansas State game after halftime, part of the “rash of head injuries” that plagued the lineup against KSU.

If Greene does not play, it will be the first game he has missed since Sept. 23, 2023, versus Texas Tech. Nicco Marchiol, who stepped in for Greene against Kansas State, would get the start if Greene is unavailable.

“We’ll see how it goes,” WVU head coach Neal Brown said. “I think it’s too early to tell. He didn’t practice today. I’m not saying he’s out. I think it’s too early to tell. We’ll just kind of play it by ear.”

Greene led WVU on a pair of 13-play drives right before halftime. The first ended with a touchdown pass from Greene to Hudson Clement, while the second ended at the Kansas State 3 when the Mountaineers couldn’t convert a fourth down.

Brown said he would have a better idea on Greene possibly Wednesday or Thursday. The decision on whether to play someone, he said, is usually a person-by-person, case-by-case basis.

“First, you’ve got to make the right decision for that player,” Brown said. “We’re never going to put anybody out there that’s not ready. Or, just as a coach and a parent, you don’t want to ever put anybody’s son out there if you don’t feel great about it. That’s the first hurdle you have to overcome.

“And then, regardless of position, do they have enough experience or the practice time to be prepared to go play?” Brown continued. “In regard to Garrett, he does have a lot of experience, but it’s difficult to play without any practice time.”

If Greene – both the team’s leading passer (1,352 yards, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions) and rusher (471 yards, three touchdowns) – can’t go, WVU coaches are confident in Marchiol, who has stepped in for Greene both against Kansas State and Oklahoma State. Marchiol struggled against KSU, finishing with 68 yards and a touchdown on 6-of-13 passing and 0 yards on nine carries, but offensive coordinator Chad Scott said WVU should be able to run the same plays with Marchiol in as it would with Greene.

“As far as the concepts that are called, limiting what we want to call, what we’re capable of calling based on personnel, we won’t limit that in that capacity,” Scott said.

As for Milum, if he’s unable to go, redshirt freshman Johnny Williams will start in his place. Williams came in for Milum in the second half this past Saturday.

“Are we better when (Milum) plays? Absolutely,” Brown said. “But we’ll have a good plan, and I think Johnny’s ready. I don’t think we’ll be any different, but we will miss him.”

Running back Jahiem White joined Milum and Greene on the sideline in the second half of the KSU loss, but Brown said he felt good about his availability for Saturday. If he can’t go, C.J. Donaldson should get an even larger share of the carries.

Wide receiver Jaden Bray, who had to sit the KSU game with an injury, still won’t play at Arizona, Brown said. The same is true for starting spear Aubrey Burks. He missed the Kansas State game, and will also miss the Arizona game. He has 13 tackles so far this season for the Mountaineers.

Brown has a better outlook for starting corner Ayden Garnes, who sat the Kansas State game with an injury. He’s hopeful Garnes will play against Arizona. Brown also feels good about the availability of defensive linemen T.J. Jackson and Hammond Russell.