Josh Fields/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman quarterback Willie Tuitama throws a pass downfield during Saturday's 38-14 loss to Washington at Arizona Stadium. Tuitama and freshman wide receiver Mike Thomas are battling injuries suffered during the game against the Huskies, but are expected to play in the Territorial Cup matchup Nov. 25 at ASU.

Freshmen Tuitama, Thomas battling injuries but expect to play against ASU

In the midst of a bye week before taking on ASU, the Arizona football team is using the down time for three specific things: recovery, reflection and preparation.

The Wildcats are trying to return two of their more productive offensive players to the field. Freshman standouts Willie Tuitama and Mike Thomas have both been limited in practice this week because of hand injuries.

Thomas didn't practice and was in street clothes yesterday.

"He broke a small bone in his hand, and we did the (corrective) procedure (Monday)," said Arizona head coach Mike Stoops. "We're just hopeful that he'll be able to play a week from Friday."

Thomas, who has hauled in an Arizona-freshman-record 52 catches for 771 yards, said the doctor put a plate and a couple of screws in his hand to fix the break.

Both Stoops and Thomas said they hoped the Wildcats' leading receiver would be ready to compete against the Sun Devils.

"It looks pretty good," said Thomas about his prospects of playing. "We're just going to play it by ear, and hopefully I can get back out there."

Stoops said if the team could pad Thomas' hand, and he can play without doing further damage, then he'll be on the field in Tempe.

Thomas said he wasn't sure when he was hurt in the team's 38-14 loss to Washington, but thinks it happened on a blocking play.

The DeSoto, Texas, native said he was unable to move his hand at all Saturday night, but that he's got feeling and motion in it now.

"It would hurt," said Thomas about the chance of missing the team's final game. "That's why I'm going to try and get back so I can finish the season and try to help my team get that victory."

Less pressing is the injury to Tuitama, who hurt his throwing hand during Saturday's game.

The freshman quarterback went through light practice drills yesterday, but couldn't talk to the media because he was getting medical treatment on the hand after practice.

"He's fine. There's no fracture or anything, it's just bruised," Stoops said. "We've just got to rest him."

Stoops said he expects Tuitama back to full practice tomorrow, possibly along with offensive linemen Kili Lefotu and Peter Graniello, both of whom are suffering from ankle injuries.

"There's a 90 to 100 percent chance that both of them will be available for the game," Stoops said. "We're a little bit nicked up. Everyone is at the end of the season."

Along with recovery, Stoops said the Wildcats are using this off week to begin preparations for their in-state rival.

"We just prepare and try to piece together our game plan," he said. "We're trying to formulate both sides of the ball as to what we want to do."

That might be a little bit more difficult this week because of the tough defeat the team suffered to the Huskies, who entered winless in the Pacific 10 Conference over the past two seasons.

Stoops said it was good to resume football activities and try to get over the loss.

"We were a little bit shell shocked after Saturday's performance, and I think it's good to go back and figure out what went wrong," he said. "We all made a lot of mistakes, and I think it eats at you. I think it's good to get back out onto the field and do something about it."