Hauss Hejny won't start for Colorado State at Texas State

Pete Thamel broke it Monday, and it's the quarterback news anyone looking at Thursday's line needed.

Pete Thamel

@PeteThamel

Sources: Colorado State QB Hauss Hejny will not start at Texas State on Thursday night. He’s recovering from a hamstring issue and missed the past two games. CSU is hopeful he’ll be available in an emergency role, as he’s been ramping up in practice. K'Saan Farrar is expected to start again for CSU.

The injury goes back to September 19 against BYU. Hejny hurt his hamstring in the first quarter, tried 1 more series, and then sat for the rest of a 41-23 loss. Jim Mora said afterward that Hejny is a guy who needs to move around and couldn't, and that he couldn't throw the ball well either. Farrar, who fought Hejny for the job all spring and preseason, took over from there.

It's a real loss. Hejny, who came over from Oklahoma State, opened Mora's first season by going 23-of-33 for 214 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Wyoming. Colorado State started 2-0 with him. Since he went down, the Rams have lost 3 straight, and the defense has been just as much of a problem as the quarterback spot: 59 points allowed at UTSA, then 56 against Oregon State.

Farrar hasn't been the problem, though. The UConn transfer threw for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns at UTSA and came out of that 59-45 shootout with 1 interception. Against Oregon State he completed 17 passes for 178 yards and scored once through the air and once on the ground. He's been fine. The Rams just haven't been able to stop anybody.

Thamel's wording is the part to watch. CSU hopes Hejny can be there in an emergency role after ramping up in practice, so he'll probably dress, but this is Farrar's game unless something goes wrong. Even a full bye week wasn't enough to get Hejny's hamstring back to starting shape, and that tells you how cautious the staff is being with a QB whose game depends on his legs.

Colorado State goes into a Thursday night road game at 2-3, with San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State and the rest of the schedule still ahead. A win in San Marcos stops the skid and buys Hejny another week to get healthy. Another loss puts Mora's first year in Fort Collins in a hole, whoever is playing quarterback.