(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Head coach Kyle Flood offered no update Sunday besides receiving a "positive report" on injured quarterback Gary Nova, who suffered a blow to his right knee a day earlier at No. 16 Nebraska.

Nova left the game with 31 seconds left in the first half after he was brought down from behind, and did not return. Nova finished 8-f0r-19 for 156 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

"He's still on crutches, and I don't think we're going to know anything until probably Tuesday morning for sure ," Flood said. 

It was the first major injury of Nova's career. Nova suffered a concussion early last season but returned the following week. Flood wouldn't rule out Nova playing — provided medical clearance — on a short week of practice.

"The less you practice, the harder it gets, that's for sure," Flood said. "But Gary's played a lot of football over the last four years. That would certainly help if he is limited in practice. But we don't know that he will be."

In his place, redshirt freshman Chris Laviano went 4-for-7 for 49 yards and added 54 yards on five rushes. It was the most expansive action of his young career — Laviano appeared in mop-duty last week at Ohio State.

"I think it was a great opportunity for him to go out there and perform in a setting he has not had the opportunity to be in very much," Flood said of Laviano. "Do you have more confidence in him today than before you got a chance to see that? I think that's fair."

Laviano will be Rutgers' go-to quarterback in Sunday night's practice. Junior Mike Bimonte will back him up.