U of L QB Gardner's status still unclear

The University of Louisville football team is "monitoring" starting quarterback Will Gardner this week after he was sidelined by a low hit in Saturday's 34-3 win over Florida International, U of L announced in a release on Tuesday.

Gardner appeared to tweak his left knee on the third-quarter play and immediately left the game. Team trainers evaluated Gardner on the sideline and told U of L coach Bobby Petrino that Gardner's knee was "stable."

Gardner stayed on the sideline for the remainder of the game and has had his knee evaluated three more times since the game.

Petrino on Monday said U of L wasn't ready to determine if Gardner would practice this week or play in this coming Saturday's game against Wake Forest.

"Will Gardner continues to undergo evaluation and treatment on his lower extremity injury," the U of L statement said.

"We will monitor his symptoms and progression from treatments on a daily basis and see how he responds throughout the week."

Gardner was not seen leaving practice on Tuesday with his teammates, though freshman quarterback Reggie Bonnafon was back in pads after spending last week with his family following his father's unexpected death.

Bonnafon would likely start against Wake Forest if Gardner can't play. Backups Brett Nelson and Kyle Bolin played in Gardner's place during the remainder of the FIU game.

Petrino refused to go into more detail on Gardner's injury on Monday, saying the information was on his quarterback's knee was limited.

"He was sore," Petrino said. "There's swelling ... It could be a day-to-day deal."

Louisville does know that Gardner's injury isn't the same anterior cruciate ligament tear that sidelined him twice earlier in his career. Both of those ACL injuries came in his right knee.