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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn has a shoulder injury requiring surgery and will miss MAACO Bowl Las Vegas on Dec. 22
Head coach Kyle Whittingham made the announcement after practice Saturday afternoon. Senior backup Terrance Cain will be the starter when the Utes go after their 10th consecutive bowl victory. Utah's opponent is expected to be Boise State or Nevada.
"Bad news. Jordan was diagnosed with a shoulder injury. He'll have surgery before the bowl game in the upcoming 7-10 days," Whittingham said. "It'll be a six- month rehab, so he will not be available for spring ball."
Wynn, he added, probably won't begin throwing again until May.
Whittingham said the damage was revealed in an MRI Friday evening.
Cain, who will now be backed up by true freshman Griff Robles, is eager to do what he can for the team.
"When a soldier goes down it's the backup person's duty to pick up the role and keep it going," said Cain, who is 9-1 as a starter at Utah.
Earlier in week, Wynn didn't suggest he had any problems that might keep him out of the game.
"I'm fine. I feel good," Wynn said. "I'm ready for the bowl game."
Reporters were not allowed to speak with Wynn on Saturday. He wore a sling on his throwing shoulder at practice.
Whittingham noted that the shoulder injury, which may have developed after getting dinged at Iowa State and against BYU, became more troublesome this week and prompted the MRI.
"Not good news," Whittingham said. "But life goes on. You go forward."
Wynn, a sophomore, played in 10 games this season — completing 186-of-299 passes for 2,334 yards and 17 touchdowns. He's been intercepted 10 times.
Cain, who started twice when Wynn was sidelined with a thumb injury earlier in the season, appeared in nine games. He completed 51-of-72 passes for 610 yards and six touchdowns. The only two interceptions Cain threw this season came in last week's 17-16 win over BYU.
Robles, a redshirt freshman, has seen very limited action. He made appearances in just four games and failed to complete the only pass he attempted. Robles is, however, fourth on the team in rushing with 124 yards on 17 carries.
E-mail: dfacer@desnews.com
