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Zach Arnett and Mississippi State Bulldogs are facing an injury situation at quarterback.
Senior QB Will Rogers did not play in the Bulldogs’ matchup against Arkansas on Saturday. Rogers suffered a shoulder injury during Mississippi State’s 41-28 victory over Western Michigan.
Arnett said Monday that Rogers, like most of the players on the Bulldogs’ roster, are “a little banged up.”
Rogers, Arnett added, is day-to-day and being evaluated. Through 5 games so far this season, the senior play caller has 10 touchdown passes, 4 interceptions, 1,275 passing yards, 61% on completions and has a 138.7 QB rating.
“Will’s progressing just like we expect. If he’s able to go, he’ll go. If not, he’s not,” Arnett said. “And that goes for any other guy on the team. We have several days to evaluate, see his progress in practice, and make a determination then.”
Despite the absence of one of their leaders, the Bulldogs squeezed out a 7-3 win over Arkansas on Saturday. Mike Wright, another senior QB, led Mississippi State on 8-of-12 completions, 85 yards, a TD and an interception. On the ground, he ran the ball 11 times for 60 yards.
“It was (Mike’s) first game playing that many snaps,” Arnett said at Monday’s press conference. “He had some good plays and he had some he’s not going to be happy about. On his interception, the hole shot is there, but you can’t hesitate in that coverage.”
Arnett said on Wright’s interception, it’s about having to “trust your instinct” and “rip it in there or you give the safety the chance to make a play.”
“One other pass he forced across the middle that could have been a turnover,” Arnett said. “He knows he has to get those corrected and eliminate.”
Arnett noted that despite some miscues, Wright “did some really good things too.”
“The way the game was going, you’re going to be a little more conservative,” Arnett said. “You don’t want to make a mistake deep in your own territory. You give the opponent some momentum.”
The Bulldogs, now 4-3 on the season, takes on Auburn this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.
