Utah Utes football: QB Jordan Wynn will be sidelined for remainder of season with shoulder injury

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah starting quarterback Jordan Wynn will be sidelined for the rest of the season after a decision was made Monday to operate on his non-throwing shoulder. He suffered the injury late in the first half of the Utes' 31-14 loss to Washington on Oct. 1. The planned surgery, which followed a series of tests, is expected to take place in the next 10-14 days.

"Obviously, this is disappointing news for Jordan and the entire team," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a released statement. "Jordan worked incredibly hard to come back from his shoulder surgery last winter, and we are confident he will take the same approach with his rehab this time around. The good news is that he is eligible for a redshirt season."

Wynn had surgery on his other shoulder last December and did not play in Utah's Las Vegas Bowl loss to Boise State. He didn't start throwing the ball again until last summer and was monitored closely in fall camp.

The junior eventually returned to a normal routine and started the first four games of the season, completing 66-of-116 passes for 727 yards and six touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.

Junior college transfer Jon Hays replaced Wynn in the second half of the Washington game and made his first career start in last Saturday's 35-14 loss to Arizona State at Rice-Eccles Stadium. He was intercepted three times by the Sun Devils.

"I've been frustrated the past 24 hours or whatever it's been since the game," Hays said as Utah (2-3) prepares for this week's game at Pittsburgh (3-3). "So I'm just excited to get back and have a new week, a clean slate."

True freshman Tyler Shreve will be Hays' backup. Sophomore Griff Robles is getting some No. 2 reps as well since being moved back to quarterback from linebacker since Wynn's injury.

Last week, Whittingham addressed Utah's depth at quarterback.

"I don't think that we're any thinner right now than anybody in the country," Whittingham said. "We've got four scholarship quarterbacks if you count Griff."

Most teams have four, he explained.

"So I think we're at our quota," Whittingham said. "But you can never be too deep at that position, and we're going to go out and get some more quarterbacks in this next class."

The Utes did lose out on a couple of recruited quarterbacks on signing day last February.

Utes on the air

Utah (2-3) at Pittsburgh (3-3)

Saturday, 10 a.m. MT, at Heinz Field

TV: ESPNU

Radio: ESPN 700 AM

email: dirk@desnews.com