Sophomore Rhett Rodriguez, who played the bulk of the snaps last week at Utah, will make his first career start.

Sumlin met with Tate on Monday, and they agreed it was in Tate鈥檚 best interest to sit for at least one week. Tate first hurt his left ankle on Sept. 8 against Houston. He hasn鈥檛 been 100 percent since, and Tate had to leave Friday鈥檚 game at Utah after the second offensive series.

"We talked through a lot of different things," Sumlin said. "I made the decision this week to sit him down. It鈥檚 the best thing for him. It鈥檚 just for this week, to give him a chance to get healthy. He鈥檚 been very courageous in what he鈥檚 tried to do the last couple weeks."

Tate has started the past 15 games for the Wildcats. After a breakout sophomore season, the junior has been slowed by the ankle injury and has had trouble at times adapting to a new offensive system.

After rushing for 1,411 yards last season, Tate has just 113 yards this year. His per-carry average has fallen from 9.2 yards to 2.5.

"That was an injury that was nagging," Sumlin said. "So we鈥檙e going to take this week for him to get healthy and give him a chance to be the best Khalil Tate the last quarter of the season.

"As I say about any player: The best you is the best us. For safety reasons, for his health and for our football team, he was in agreement with that. That鈥檚 the direction we鈥檙e going."

The timing isn't ideal for Tate or the Wildcats. Tate grew up in Los Angeles as a UCLA fan; his cousin, Manuel White, played for the Bruins.

蜜柚直播 lost 42-10 to the Utes. At 3-4, the Wildcats are scrambling to qualify for a bowl game. Tate's inability to scramble has limited the offense.

"It has hampered his performance," Sumlin said. "Giving him the opportunity to get healthy, we talked through it and he understood the big picture. It鈥檚 frustrating for him to not be able to do the things that he wanted to be able to do for the last month, month and a half."

Rodriguez, the son of former UA coach Rich Rodriguez, completed 20 of 38 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown in two-plus quarters against Utah.

Sumlin said freshmen Jamarye Joiner and Kevin Doyle will continue to get increased practice reps and could play against the Bruins as well.

We'll have more on this developing story later today.