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PROVO — BYU will be without its two leading receivers when it hosts No. 9 Baylor in Saturday night's home opener, according to ESPN.
The 21st-ranked Cougars (1-0) will host the Bears (1-0) in one of the top college football games of Week 2 without wide receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney, according to a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Nacua, who was a key component in BYU's offense during the Cougars' 38-24 loss in Waco, Texas, last year, has been battling an ankle injury that occurred in the first half of the 50-21 win over South Florida in the season opener. The former Orem High standout had two rushing touchdowns in that game, including a 75 yarder on a jet sweep on the game's first play from scrimmage.
Asked Wednesday if Nacua was healthy enough to play on the weekend, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick was cheeky but honest in his response.
"I wouldn't tell you if I knew," Roderick said. "But I don't know. Probably a game-time decision."
Asked if Nacua had practiced a week after leaving the season opener at South Florida early with an apparent ankle injury, Roderick was likewise unequivocal.
"I'm not answering that," he quipped.
Romney will be held out with an undisclosed injury, one that also kept him out of the game against South Florida and limited him during most of fall training camp. A timetable for his return has not been publicly determined.
"There are some guys who are questionable," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said Monday. "We'll see what happens. I'll probably have more of an idea tomorrow."
Defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki said this week that he's been working with a full allotment of defensive players (from the South Florida game) in practice, including defensive lineman Gabe Summers, who left the first game early with an apparent knee injury.
"Right now, we're healthy," Tuiaki said. "We've got everybody who went into the game against South Florida."
In the absence of Nacua and Romney, BYU will turn to Keanu Hill, who had a 21-yard touchdown against the Bulls; Kody Epps, who caught four passes for 26 yards; Brayden Cosper, who had three catches for 27 yards; and Chase Roberts, who had three catches for 41 yards. Tight ends Dallin Holker (3 catches 39 yards, 1 touchdown) and Isaac Rex (two catches, 23 yards) could also see more targets.
In last year's loss, Nacua hauled in five catches from quarterback Jaren Hall for 168 yards and a touchdown. That's close to half of the 342 passing yards by Hall, who also had a career-long 56-yard rushing touchdown, and a large chunk of the offense that also included 33 rushing yards and a score from Tyler Allgeier.
The junior Washington transfer finished with 76 yards and two touchdowns for the Cougars against South Florida.
