WSU WR Darrius Clemons, OT Ashton Tripp questionable with injuries, plus other notes

Oct. 19—PULLMAN — Washington State's offense is looking better, but that group may not be at full strength this weekend when No. 21 Boise State comes to town. Left tackle Ashton Tripp is day-to-day with an ankle injury, WSU coach Kirby Moore said Monday, while wide receiver Darrius Clemons is dealing with his own ankle injury. Medical staff is "determining the extent of that injury here early this week," Moore said. Tripp missed WSU's road loss to Oregon State on Saturday, which prompted Washington transfer Maximus McCree to take his place, marking the first time someone other than Tripp has played left tackle for WSU since 2023. Tripp is a key cog on the Cougars' offensive line. Clemons' injury could also be costly for the Cougs, who were already running low on depth at the wide receiver spot thanks to a season-ending ACL tear to Tony Freeman in the Sept. 6 Apple Cup. Clemons played just 12 snaps in Saturday's game before coming out with his injury, getting carted to the locker room and returning to the bench with crutches by his side. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, Clemons had played a big role in the pass-catching department, hauling in 20 receptions for 218 yards, starting in all seven games. If Clemons can't play this weekend against Boise State, the Cougars will ask more from receivers Daniel Blood, Tank Hawkins and Branden Ganashamoorthy, the latter of whom posted 11 catches for 147 yards last weekend — both career highs. A couple other receivers could get more reps, Moore added , West Georgia transfer Jordan Dees and walk-on Caleb Northcroft. A year after reeling in 35 receptions for 508 yards and three touchdowns at the FCS level, Dees has played just four snaps this season, all of which came against FCS Duquesne in Week 3. Asked what's preventing Dees from seeing a bigger role, Moore said , "There's guys ahead of him right now on the depth chart. He's gotta work to continue to be consistent, just like his teammates, and that's the big focus for him is just focusing on doing his job, alignment, assignment, obviously playing catch with the quarterbacks and being on the same page." —In other injury news, defensive ends Malachi Wrice and Michael Hughes are expected to play "full speed" this weekend, Moore said. After missing five straight games, Hughes returned against Oregon State, posting one pressure in 30 snaps. Wrice, who has been out since Week 2, suited up but didn't play. That's a meaningful development for WSU, which needs some depth behind starting pass rushers Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk, who combined for five pressures against Oregon State. —On Monday, Moore also said name, image and likeness earnings have no bearing on playing time: "No, the best players are gonna play. We've had those evaluations at a number of positions, whether that's quarterback, receiver, D-tackle. It's really about who gives us the best opportunity to win." That has been something of a discussion lately in the wake of the coaches' decision to bench QB Caden Pinnick, a transfer from UC Davis, in favor of redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman. Did NIL play a factor in Pinnick remaining the starter for six games? Moore said no. So what separated those two in fall camp, and how much of what Eshelman put on display in Saturday's game — completing 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and one garbage-time interception, plus 15 carries for 136 yards and one score — did he seem capable of earlier in the year? "He definitely showed flashes," Moore said. "I think the one thing, and he would say it as well, in fall camp there, there was probably some (issues) in terms of taking care of the football. Probably had a few more than we wanted, and he's definitely grown from that. Obviously, it starts in practice and preparing like you're the starter, and he continued to do that throughout the season." In fall camp, Eshelman did commit an interception or two, including coming inches away from another at the hands of safety Jaylen Thomas. But Pinnick also had his share of turnover problems, including a three-interception (two tipped) outing in the team's second and final scrimmage.