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football Edit

Persa questionable

Northwestern released its injury report on Thursday and, as expected, it shed very little light on star quarterback Dan Persa's status for Saturday's season opener against Boston College.
The senior Heisman Trophy candidate is listed as questionable, meaning that fans likely won't know whether or not he will play until the first-team offense trots onto the field in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
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Coach Pat Fitzgerald said this week that he would not make a statement to the press before Saturday, so the report did nothing to tip his hand.
The injury report states only that Persa has a "leg injury." He ruptured his right Achilles tendon last Nov. 13 in a win over Iowa and had surgery immediately after.
Persa said on Tuesday, in his only statement to the media this week, that his Achilles was "close to a 10" on a scale of 1-10. He said doctors would evaluate the tendon this week to determine his availability for the game.
However, in what could be a telling sign, Persa only got three repetitions during 7-on-7 drills on Tuesday and spent the rest of practice watching backup Kain Colter run the first-team offense, as he has throughout camp. Persa has yet to participate in live, 11-on-11 scrimmages during practice.
Colter will get the start if Persa is not able to play. The two QBs could also split snaps against the Eagles.
The injury report was more definitive about the following players, who will not play on Saturday:
Brian Arnfelt, DT, Foot
Mike Bolden, DB, Leg
Jared Carpenter, S, Wrist
Collin Ellis, LB, Hand
Roderick Goodlow, LB, Leg
Tony Jones, WR, Leg
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