With a bye this coming weekend, the Hawaii football team is preparing for some R&R: recovery and repair.

The Warriors are monitoring the medical updates for inside linebacker Corey Paredes and center Matagisila Lefiti.

Running back Sterling Jackson, who suffered a shoulder injury during a special-teams drill last week, was on a need-to-play basis for the 44-26 victory over Louisiana Tech, head coach Greg McMackin and offensive coordinator confirmed Monday. With John Lister making his first start and Joey Iosefa rushing for a season-high 99 yards, Jackson did not play.

Paredes was helped to the sideline after suffering an injury to his right knee. Later, he returned to play a series.

Paredes was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday afternoon. But he said he was confident the injury would not keep him from playing in UH’s next game, Oct. 14 at San Jose State.

"Everything is fine," Paredes said.

Backup inside linebacker George Daily-Lyles, who did not make the recent trip because of a knee ailment, is expected to be cleared to play against San Jose State.

McMackin expressed concern about Lefiti, who left each of the past two games in the first quarter because of a leg ailment. McMackin said Lefiti will undergo an MRI this week.

McMackin praised Lefiti’s replacement, London Sapolu, and noted that Sapolu is making the proper calls, blocking effectively and, in particular, looking after teammates.

In the second quarter against Louisiana Tech, replays showed defensive lineman Jon’al White knocked down UH left guard Brett Leonard. Soon after, White turned and was heading toward the fallen Leonard. Sapolu rushed over and knocked away White, drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty.

McMackin approved of Sapolu "protecting his own player."

"That might not be right, or the officials or whoever may not think that’s the right attitude, but that’s how I’ve been raised and that’s how I coach," McMackin added. "We protect our own. We don’t fight, and we walk away. And if it were one-on-one, you’d better walk away. But when a team is going after a knocked-out player, then we have got to protect him. That’s just manning up."

McMackin said Sapolu will not face any disciplinary action.

McMackin said he is concerned about UH’s protection on place-kicks. The Warriors have been blocked six times this season, including two by Louisiana Tech.

In the first four games, the breakdowns were based on the numerous substitutions for injured players, McMackin said. He said the staff will review videos of the LaTech game to see whether the problems were rooted in personnel or technique.

"That’s the good thing about having a bye week," McMackin said. "We can really look into that. I’ve got complete confidence in Dick (Tomey, the special teams coordinator), and I know it’ll be straightened out."