⚡ CFB Dashboard

PULLMAN -- After missing the first four games of the season along with all of spring ball and fall camp, Washington State tight end Trey Leckner is a possibility to play this weekend. The Cougar tight end was making progress last week and now Kirby Moore says he very well could play when the Cougars host Fresno State at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on USA Network. "Trey Leckner will be back full go this week in practice," Moore said. "That'll be probably a game time decision." If Leckner is good to go, it changes what WSU can do offensively. Jack Pedersen is a solid veteran and provides a reliable safety valve underneath, all while being a trusty blocker. But Pedersen and Beau Baker have also only combined for six catches, 32 hashes and one touchdown through four games. Leckner caught 24 passes for 186 hashes and three touchdowns last season and five passes for 87 hashes and a score two years ago. He re-aggravated a foot injury that required surgery this summer and was projected to be out until midseason. But across his career, the 6-3, 243-pound fourth-year from Snohomish has proven to be a vertical threat from the tight end position, something the Cougars could benefit from as they look to open up the offense. "We want to be able to utilize both those guys," Moore said of Leckner and Pedersen. "Obviously try and get our best players on the field on offense. That'll probably be determined how he looks today, Tuesday and Wednesday with the big work days. But I think he's really progressed from the previous week. He's definitely shown that in the past, and we're excited to get him out there." Moore also had updates on cornerback Jalil Tucker and linebacker Nylan Brown, the latter of whom was seen in street clothes during the game. "Jalil's going to be game to game and day to day," Moore said. "He warmed up. Just wasn't feeling as good as we were hoping, and so then made the adjustment there in the secondary ... We will probably have a better determination (on Brown), he's got an appointment later today. So we'll kind of see where he's at from a week to week standpoint, when we get together on Thursday." With Tucker out, WSU continued to mix and match Jamarey Smith, Kai Rapolla and CJ Solis-Lumar at cornerback against Arizona, with Jaylen Thomas at nickel and Jackquintin Bal at safety. Brown hasn't played much in recent weeks, with Isaiah Hung taking on the role of the No. 3 linebacker. Here is more from what Moore had to say ... ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE PLAY FROM SATURDAY: "Give Arizona credit. They played better up front than we did there in the second half. (We) didn't execute, had some penalties up front as well, so that puts you in longer down and distances. They're able to pin their ears back and go in some of those passing situations. We didn't protect the quarterback. We didn't stay ahead of the chains. The three big differences in the game. "You look at explosive plays, I think we had eight, Arizona had 12. They beat us in the rushing battle there pretty good, and we had two turnovers. They had one. Those are the facts of the game." ON CADEN PINNICK'S TWO TURNOVERS: "We have to learn from those. Obviously take a shot there on first-and-10 from around the 50-yard line. We can't make a bad play worse, so we have to learn from that. And then the third down, it's okay to punt the defense. Had a good call. There's some other things within that play that we have to look at and make sure we're on the same page." ON LETTING TIME TICK DOWN AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF: "We got the ball to start the second half (and) Arizona's got an explosive offense. (I) thought if whether we scored or we kicked a field goal too early, giving the ball back to that quarterback, I did not think was in our best interest. A lot of explosive plays that he's created throwing the football and lowering the clock. "Obviously, we didn't execute and ended up kicking a field goal there. But I think they had 22 seconds left when they got the ball, ended up taking a knee. So I think we played that in the best interest with their offense." ON GETTING THE DEFENSE MORE TIME TO BREATHE: "It adds up in the fact that you're going against a really good quarterback. And we were very aggressive on defense, and you saw that in the first half. And over time, he's going to make some plays. He's going to create some passes downfield, and they had the quick drive right there, and just keeping our guys fresh because the coverage and the front, and it's all got to work together. "If the front is tired and we're not getting the rush that we want to, that's affecting the back end. And that's what we've got to get there in the third quarter and really start playing complimentary football." Related: Washington State vs. Fresno State, The Early Glimpse