University of Hawaii linebacker Julian Gener will undergo season-ending elbow surgery on Friday, coach Norm Chow confirmed Monday.
Chow also said it remains in question whether quarterback Taylor Graham, who suffered an injury to his left (nonthrowing) shoulder or running back Joey Iosefa, who has a sore left foot, will be available for Saturday’s game against 25th-ranked Fresno State. Neither has been ruled out.
Gener suffered the injury to his right elbow when he landed awkwardly on a second-quarter play against Nevada over the weekend.
Gener, who transferred from Mount San Antonio College in January, will undergo what is termed "Tommy John surgery," a ligament-replacement operation usually performed on baseball pitchers.
Gener is expected to be ready for next year’s training camp. He is eligible for a medical redshirt because he was injured in the first six games and will not play more than three games this season. If granted, he would have two more years of UH eligibility.
"There’s no doubt he was playing extremely well," defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said of Gener.
Gener’s 16 tackles are third-highest among the Rainbow Warriors.
He also plays on three special-teams units.
Gener’s impressive play enabled Art Laurel to rotate between the weak side and middle. Laurel is expected to be used mostly on the weak side this week.
Kaumeyer said Lance Williams, who has been used in sub-packages, will serve as Laurel’s understudy.
Strongside linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams can help on the weak side.
Kaumeyer said Kawehi Sablan probably will be promoted from the scout team.
Graham’s left shoulder was hurt when he was hit on a keeper in the second quarter against Nevada.
UH is mulling contingency plans if Graham is limited or unavailable for Saturday’s game.
"When you get it figured out," said Chow, with a shrug, "you let me know."
The Warriors have four quarterbacks on the active roster. Sean Schroeder, Jeremy Higgins and Ikaika Woolsey played against Nevada.
Schroeder, who started 11 games in 2012 after transferring from Duke, was listed as the No. 2 quarterback on last week’s depth chart. Higgins started one game last year. Woolsey, who grayshirted in 2011 and redshirted as a freshman last year, has been the scout quarterback in practices this fall.
Iosefa missed training camp and the first two games after suffering a fracture in his left foot while training in July.
He appeared to be hurt during a pile-up on his third carry of UH’s opening drive against Nevada. He did not play after that. After the game, he was on crutches and his left foot was in a medical boot.
On Monday, he participated in meetings and the weight-lifting session without the boot or crutches.
Faga Wily, who was the No. 1 running back in the first two games, is expected to play this week. He did not make the recent trip because of a concussion suffered during an intrasquad scrimmage a week earlier.
Running back Diocemy Saint Juste, who tweaked his left hamstring against Nevada, appears to be healthy.
Chow said he is hopeful tight end Harold Moleni and defensive ends Beau Yap and Iuta Tepa will be medically cleared after suffering concussion-like symptoms.
