Safety Lono Manners is pau for the season because of a fractured ankle. Left cornerback Abraham Elimimian and right cornerback Kenny Patton are suffering from hamstring injuries.

Omega Hogan and Turmarian Moreland, who is recovering from a pulled hamstring, competed at left cornerback yesterday. Cameron Hollingsworth and Ray Bass split time at right cornerback. In Manners' absence, Lamar Broadway, Landon Kafentzis, Matt Manuma and Keao Monteilh played safety.

It marked the first time Monteilh, a 2004 Saint Louis School graduate, had played safety.

"They told me to go in, so I went in," he said. "The other safeties have been helping me out. I never played safety before. I've played corner my whole life."

Rich Miano, who coordinates the pass defense, said it was the staff's wish for Monteilh to follow the career path of Hyrum Peters, a former Warrior who twice was named to the Western Athletic Conference all-star team.

"We knew he was a good football player," Miano said. "We thought he'd begin at corner, learn that, play some nickel (back) and end up being a safety, like Hyrum Peters. Where we are now, we may have to expedite that. We have to teach him some safety just in case we're thin at the position. He's kind of our utility guy."

Elimimian did not compete in contact drills, but he ran sprints after practice. He is expected to play in Saturday's game against San Jose State.

Patton's availability remains in question. "I really don't have full range of motion right now," Patton said. "As soon as I have full range of motion, I'll go."

Although the Warriors have maintained their usual practice schedule this week, Miano said, "we have to do more individual teaching because we're down in numbers. Usually, I'm teaching the group. Now I might tutor one cornerback while Keith (Bhonapha, a defensive assistant) tutors the other one. We want to make sure they know what they're doing and they get enough work this week because we don't know who's going to end up playing on Saturday."

Cockheran can't help shoulder the load

With Ian Sample expected to miss at least three weeks because of a shoulder injury, the Warriors are scrambling for a backup to left wideout Jason Rivers. Marcus Weems and Rene Melson competed at that position yesterday. Starting right wideout Britton Komine also can move to the left side.

But the Warriors won't be able to use a receiver who had an impressive workout yesterday. Jeremiah Cockheran, last year's co-captain, ran routes with his former teammates after practice.

Cockheran said he has fully recovered from surgery to repair a shoulder injury suffered in last year's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. He was invited to the Bengals' training camp in May, but did not pass the physical examination.

"I'm three, four months out of surgery, and I'm doing a lot better," he said. "I'm good to go. I'm still working out, still working hard."