The Hawai'i football coaches are taking their time going through the receiving line.

The Warriors are seeking a replacement for Rodney Bradley, who suffered a broken leg in Saturday's 35-23 loss to Idaho.

Bradley said he underwent successful surgery, and is scheduled to return home today. He said he has been told he should be able to make a full recovery and play in 2010.

For now, Joe Avery gets the first shot at starting at left wideout. Avery, who is 6 feet 5 and 195 pounds, replaced Bradley, and finished with three catches for 41 yards.

"I'm ready," said Avery, a third-year sophomore. "I'm excited, but at the same time, I have to know my responsibilities."

But the Warriors also would like to establish depth — and competition — at that position.

Head coach Greg McMackin said Royce Pollard, who can play both wideout spots, probably will not be available for the second consecutive week. Pollard said he has a stress fracture in his left fibula. He has been told he can resume practicing when he is pain-free.

McMackin has left open the possibility of moving a slotback to left wideout.

But left slotback Greg Salas, who was UH's starting left wideout in 2008, will not move back there. Salas is the nation's No. 2 receiver, averaging 131.83 receiving yards per game.

In meetings the past two days, there were discussions about moving slotbacks Kealoha Pilares, Jon Medeiros, Dustin Blount or Ryan Henry to wideout. Because Pilares already made the move from running back to slotback in spring training, and Medeiros is more comfortable as a slot, the likely candidates to move would be Blount and Henry.

Blount recently became eligible after completing work on a summer-session class. Henry has been used mostly as a punt returner. Both can run 40 yards in under 4.5 seconds.

A sleeper is Craig Bell, who has finally conquered a knee injury. Bell is not listed in the 2009 UH football media guide.

A few years ago, Bell was a much-sought recruit. He received scholarship offers from Washington, Utah, San Diego State, Idaho and Washington State. But after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Bell's offers dwindled. He signed with UH in February 2008, three weeks after McMackin was hired as head coach.

But just before the 2008 training camp, Bell aggravated his right ACL.

He did not play last season.

At the end of spring practice, it was agreed that Bell would never be 100 percent. UH was prepared to petition Bell for a medical retirement, which would mean he would remain on scholarship but not be eligible to play.

But after intensive workouts and rehabilitation during the summer, Bell's knee strengthened. It improved to the point where it was decided he would be able to play this year.

"I was frustrated, but the frustration level has gone down," Bell said. "I'm up at 100 percent again."

Before the injury, Bell said, he was hand-timed running 40 yards in 4.38 seconds. He said he now can run 40 yards in under 4.5 seconds.

"I'm getting ready to step up," Bell said. "I'm getting ready for my chance."

PILARES WAS BENCHED

Pilares indicated that his inconsistent play — two drops in the first half — was the reason he was not in the lineup in the third quarter of the Idaho game.

"It was the coaches' decision," Pilares said.

Pilares is the No. 2 receiver in the Western Athletic Conference, averaging 6.8 catches per game. But he has dropped three passes in the past two games.

"It's a lack of concentration, I guess," Pilares said. "I get frustrated, and worry about it."

NOTES AND UPDATES

• Right tackle Laupepa Letuli is undergoing a unique blood-enhancing procedure to hasten his recovery from an injured left knee. Letuli has an injury to the tendon behind his left knee cap.

• Salas, who played safety for one play against Idaho, said he will be used as a defensive back during hail-Mary situations. "When they throw a hail Mary, I can try to swat it down," Salas said.

• Defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga is expected to miss another two weeks because of a severely sprained right ankle.