Colorado State safety Mike Pagnotta, second on the team in tackles with 53, has ended his career four weeks early because of a shoulder injury.
After saying Monday at his weekly news conference there were no new injuries other than the usual nicks, Rams coach Steve Fairchild announced Pagnotta’s departure after Thursday’s closed practice, according to The Coloradoan.
Pagnotta had been the healthiest member of a secondary strapped for depth. Safety Klint Kubiak is coming off a month-long layoff with an ankle injury. His replacement, Jake Galusha, who had the game-saving interception at San Diego State, wore a red (no contact) jersey in practice this week.
If Kubiak can’t start, redshirt freshman Elijah-Blu Smith will. The timing couldn’t be worse for the Rams, with BYU, the Mountain West’s leading offense, coming in Saturday.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
