If you were hoping Monday's practice might lend insight into how long senior safety Danny Verpaele might be sidelined with an injured right foot, well, kind of. Verpaele was not at Monday's practice, which could mean it's a more longterm injury, as defensive coordinator Wally Burnham feared Saturday.

Verpaele injured his foot in the second quarter and did not return; he was wearing a boot on his right foot after the game. Highly regarded for his knowledge of USF's defense, Verpaele has 17 tackles this season and has started when the Bulls open games in their nickel package.

Two players are in position to fill in for Verpaele -- redshirt freshman cornerback Quenton Washington, who has only five tackles but has played in the nickel at cornerback, shifting Tyller Roberts to nickel; and senior Louis Gachette, who has 11 tackles and has played a considerable amount in the nickel package. Asked about Verpaele's injury Saturday, Burnham said "it doesn't sound real good right now."

Walk-on linebacker Lucas Darr, a special-teams player who left Saturday's game with a foot injury, had a boot on his right foot as he watched Monday's practice. Offensive guard Matt Huners appeared to be held out of practice with an unknown injury, as was freshman receiver Daniel Bryant.

Cornerback-turned-receiver Theo Wilson, who did not dress for Saturday's game after injuring his knee against N.C. State, looked healthy running routes with the receivers. Based on how he looked tonight, I'd be surprised if he isn't available against Louisville. And linebacker Alonzo McQueen, who didn't dress Saturday, practiced with his left ankle wrapped.

It's another good week to play Who's Playing Whom and look at the scout-team players simulating key Louisville players. Quarterback Evan Landi is wearing Hunter Cantwell's No. 14, while running back Demetris Murray is wearing Victor Anderson's No. 20; walk-on running back Joel Miller is wearing No. 32 to play Brock Bolen, who had three touchdowns Saturday. Walk-on receiver Justin Wilkins is wearing topo receiver Doug Beaumont's No. 27. Didn't jot down who was wearing the No. 89 of 6-foot-8 receiver Josh Chichester -- perhaps Eladio Espinosa can swing by and help out ...