With Fresno State headed to title game, here’s latest on defensive end David Perales’ injury

Robert Kuwada
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Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford on Monday did not rule out injured defensive end David Perales from playing in the Mountain West Conference football championship game at Boise State, which may be significant even allowing for some title week gamesmanship.

“You can ask that question a couple of different ways and I’m going to tell you the same thing,” Tedford said at his weekly press conference. “I don’t know. We have to find out what’s really wrong with him and then from there it’s a day-to-day process on how he recovers, what kind of progress he makes today, tomorrow, the next day.

Fresno State defensive end David Perales pressures San Diego State quarterback Jalen Mayden, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 in Fresno.
Fresno State defensive end David Perales pressures San Diego State quarterback Jalen Mayden, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 in Fresno.

“I know he’s going to work hard on rehab. I know that. He’ll be very dedicated to rehab, but the human body is the human body. I know his drive is there, for sure. He’s very motivated to play, but we just have to see how he recovers through the days.”

Perales, the Bulldogs’ leader with 10.5 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss, suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter of the Bulldogs’ 30-0 victory over Wyoming to end the regular season.

Da’Marcus Johnson and Andres Fox filled in after Perales went down, notably working down the line of scrimmage to help make a tackle on Wyoming running back Titus Swen.

The circumstances obviously are different this week, but when quarterback Jake Haener, safety Evan Williams and right tackle Dontae Bull were injured in a loss at USC, Tedford ruled all three out on the Monday before the Bulldogs’ next game at UConn. With a bye between games, he also was working with more information.

Johnson played 25 snaps against the Cowboys and was graded at his second-highest this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Fox played 13 snaps in that game and was graded as one of the Bulldogs’ best tacklers, which will be a critical piece in the championship game on Saturday against the Broncos.

In the first meeting between Fresno State and Boise State, the Broncos rushed for 316 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per play.