WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

NCSU's O'Brien says Wilson practicing, status to be determined Thursday

By Dane Huffman

Oct 2, 2008

N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson “was out there running around” at practice on Tuesday, coach Tom O’Brien said, and the Wolfpack plans for him to continue to practice this week.

Whether he plays Saturday against Boston College will depend on how practice goes, O’Brien said. Wilson will practice more extensively Wednesday.

“We’re going to increase his workload to get him back into the situation and see if he can handle it,” O’Brien said Wednesday on the ACC teleconference.

Wilson’s status for the Boston College game will be announced after practice on Thursday. O’Brien again refused to discuss the nature of Wilson’s injury, although WRAL has reported he had a shoulder injury.

Harrison Beck is currently listed as the starter at quarterback for Saturday. O’Brien said linebacker Nate Irving will not play against Boston College as injuries have continued to slow a State team O'Brien said is now held together by "duct tape."

"But no one's given up the ship yet and I don’t think it'll ever happen here," O'Brien said.

N.C. State is 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the ACC, and O’Brien is stressing to his team that a new season unfolds as it heads into seven straight league games.

“We talked about that Saturday night after the game,” O’Brien said of the aftermath of the loss to South Florida. “It was a tough loss to take. We lost to a good football team but that part of the season is over.

“We’re 0-1 in the conference but there’s not anybody who is 4-0 in the conference. So everybody’s alive. I’ve always treated each conference game like it’s a championship game. That’s what you’re playing for, the championship.

“We’re going to play a championship game on Saturday. Hopefully, we’ll play like champions.”