The Hawai'i football team is bracing to be without Ryan Mouton for two to four weeks after the No. 1 nickelback was diagnosed with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Mouton, who is in the No. 1 rotation at cornerback, suffered the injury during Saturday's 48-20 road victory over Idaho. He underwent an MRI scan Monday morning.

"I'm just taking it easy right now," said Mouton, who was evasive when discussing the injury.

While maintaining his status was "day to day," Mouton, in fact, was told he will miss at least Saturday's game against Utah State and, most likely, next week's nationally televised road game against San Jose State.

"I'm disappointed for him," head coach June Jones said. "He's been playing so well."

Mouton said he suffered the injury during a blitz when "I planted on it wrong, I guess."

The Warriors have two nickel packages employing five defensive backs. In the regular nickel, Mouton, who has run 40 yards in 4.28 seconds, enters as the nickelback, covering an inside receiver.

In the 45 defense, in which a bigger fifth defensive back is used, left safety Keao Monteilh becomes the nickelback and safety Desmond Thomas replaces linebacker Brad Kalilimoku.

Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said Monteilh will be the nickelback in both nickel packages.

"Mouton is a tough guy," McMackin said. "Hopefully, he'll be ready for San Jose. If not, we have a bye (the following week), so that will help. We're not going to hurt him. You know how we deal with our guys."

Mouton, who played at Blinn (junior) College in Texas last season, is not eligible for a medical hardship. Besides, Jones said: "He'll be ready to play the last five or six games."

Mouton also moonlights as a kick returner. Mike Washington replaced him in the second half of the Idaho game.

DAVIS LEARNS TO PRACTICE

With Mouton's injury, JoPierre Davis ascended to No. 2 left cornerback.

Jones said Davis is being rewarded for his improved play and attitude.

It was during the 12-day road trip last month, Jones noticed, when Davis' outlook changed "big time."

"I came in as a big talker," said Davis, a third-year sophomore from Oakland. "I talked because I felt confident in my ability to make plays. I always felt like that. In high school, you can talk because you can perform every week without having to train hard and watch films.

"Here, you're not going to get that opportunity unless you prepare. I'm learning how to practice. I'm learning how to play in a game. I'm learning what you need to do in practice to succeed in a game."

Davis said he was inspired by occupying a locker close to several seniors, including tackle Michael Lafaele, the defensive captain.

"You get the feeling you don't want to let them down," Davis said.

Davis said he was a surprise addition to the travel roster for the 12-day trip. At the time, he was a fourth-string cornerback and a scout member on special teams. He said two top special-team players, Timo Paepule and Guyton Galdeira, "took me under their arms. They treated me as part of the family."

From them, Davis began to appreciate the art and craft of playing on special teams, particularly on the kick-coverage unit.

"I ran down some kickoffs last year, but I wasn't about it," he said. "Now I'm about it. I'm better at it because I know it's a vital part of the team."

Jones said Davis began to realize that every Warrior had an impressive biography.

"All of a sudden, you're not going to go out there and be better than everybody else," Jones said. "Everybody else is just like you. It's a matter of how hard you work at it."

Davis said he also has found peace — and a new pace.

"I'm starting to live my life in a better way," Davis said. "I used to rush here and rush there. I was never settled. Now that I have my feet settled, I feel a lot better."

RIVERS BACK IN FLOW

Left wideout Jason Rivers said his sore back has improved, and he expects to play against Utah State.

Lower-back tightness kept Rivers from playing in the second half against Charleston Southern and the entire Idaho game.

"It was tough," Rivers said of not being able to play. "When my team goes to battle, I want to be there."

Rivers said he does daily core exercises to ease the discomfort. He said he was well enough to play against Idaho, but was held out because he did not practice last week.

"More importantly, I needed to have my back 100 percent for down the road," Rivers said. "We still have a lot of season left."

He estimated his health is at 95 percent.

Before the injury, Rivers was quarterback Colt Brennan's most prolific target.

"It will be good to get that chemistry going again, how fluid we are on offense," Rivers said.

LAFAELE LIMPING

Defensive right tackle Michael Lafaele yesterday was limping, a condition he blames on being low-blocked by opposing offensive linemen.

"I tweaked (the knee) a little bit," said Lafaele, who practiced yesterday and vowed to play against Utah State. "Every game, people try to chop me."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.