Rebels’ Clayton probably out this week, or longer

Chances are slim that UNLV sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton will play this week, and whether he will take another snap this season is not yet known.

Coach Mike Sanford said Clayton has at least a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, an injury he suffered during the third quarter of a 44-14 home loss to Texas Christian on Saturday.

Clayton had an MRI on Monday afternoon, and the results will be known today. If he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, he's almost certainly done for the season, though Rocky Hinds played through such an injury two years ago.

"The good thing was ... it wasn't as swollen as you might expect," Sanford said.

UNLV (3-6, 0-5 Mountain West Conference) plans to start redshirt freshman Mike Clausen against New Mexico (4-6, 2-4) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Clayton has completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 1,894 yards and 18 touchdowns. Clausen is 11 of 21 for 110 yards in six appearances, usually when Clayton got hurt.

"That's the reason we played him, and that's the whole thing of having your quarterback prepared where he is playing, especially with a freshman quarterback," Sanford said. "I feel much better about Mike in the fact he's played in all those games than if he had not."

Clausen's backup is senior Dack Ishii, who also is the punter. The Rebels would be forced to scramble if they had to go past Ishii on the depth chart. In that case they could consider former high school quarterbacks and incoming freshmen Michael Johnson and Chris Jones. Johnson is a wide receiver, Jones a safety.

Sophomore safety Travis Dixon also could move back to quarterback, where he started nine games last season. Dixon, however, has not played since Oct. 4 at Colorado State because of a right arm injury.

Wide receiver Phillip Payne did not play against TCU because of a concussion. He is expected to return this week. Sanford said Payne's symptoms didn't become known until later in the week when the freshman began to experience "severe headaches."

Sanford described the status of defensive end Thor Pili and linebacker Beau Orth, each with ankle injuries, as "wait and see."

• NOTES -- UNLV gained a commitment from interior offensive lineman Doug Zismann (6 feet 2 inches, 265 pounds), a Scout.com two-star prospect from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. He is rated as the nation's No. 25 center. Air Force, Army and Navy also offered scholarships. ... Cornerback Kenny Brown (5-9, 180) of College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., visited last weekend.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.