Kalani Sitake updates JoJo Phillips’ status, BYU injuries before ECU game

Plus: Sitake responds to UCLA job opening speculation.

BYU is heading into its first road test of the season, but not at full strength.

The Cougars are managing a number of injuries as they prepare for East Carolina on Saturday.

Chief among them is JoJo Phillips — BYU’s starting receiver, who was becoming a comfortable target for freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

Phillips had surgery a day after BYU beat Stanford and will miss a considerable amount of time.

“Not [out] for the season,” head coach Kalani Sitake said. “In the medical profession, they are really conservative on how they are going to allow you to come back. We were told he can come back before the year ends and play. It just depends on how he progresses in the next few weeks.”

Beyond Phillips, BYU will be missing linebacker Choe Bryant-Strother. He’s played in 10 games in the last two years with 13 tackles. He was a sixth-year senior who now has to decide if this injury will end his career.

“We will let him make any statements that he wants to do. Right now, I’m letting him decide what he wants to do with what is going on with him and his health,” Sitake said.

And defensive lineman Justin Kirkland is still nursing back to health. The Oklahoma State transfer was supposed to be the anchor in the middle alongside Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa. But he is yet to play this season.

“You can’t get more bulky than 340 pounds,” Sitake said. “So he should be able to give us some size up front. Last week he practiced, that is a good sign. Practiced with pads on, that is an even better sign.”

One bright spot for the Cougars is that offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho is scheduled to return. BYU’s offensive line struggled at times in pass protection against Stanford. His veteran presence might help out.

“He practiced last week and he is full go. We are excited to have him back,” Sitake finished.

On the move?

Sitake responded to rumors about the UCLA job opening. Several news outlets listed BYU’s longtime head coach as an option to take over the Bruins.

Sitake shot it down, for now.

What do we know?

After a 2-0 start, BYU is still cloaked in a thick fog.