Graunke's injured right hand gets tests

X-rays on the throwing hand of Hawaii's No. 2 quarterback were "inconclusive"

X-rays on the right (throwing) hand of Hawaii No. 2 quarterback Tyler Graunke were "inconclusive," Graunke said last night, and he was set to undergo an MRI today.

Graunke said the hand remained swollen and painful more than 10 hours after it was injured during the Warriors' workout yesterday morning.

He hurt it when he hit a defensive lineman's helmet while following through on a throw during team drills late in the practice.

"It's not feeling so good, it hurts a lot," Graunke said last night. "It's just a bummer stuff like that happens. If it's got to happen, it's not a bad time for it. But I'm going to fall behind on throwing and lifting."

He left the field with an ice pack on his hand.

"It just wasn't pretty on the tape. And Tyler's one of our toughest kids," UH coach June Jones said. "So if he says it hurts, it's probably bad."

The Warriors have three practices remaining this spring. They have workouts scheduled tomorrow and Thursday on campus and spring drills with the Football Ohana Festival on Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

Graunke, a junior, is entering his fourth year with the Warriors and has backed up Colt Brennan most of the last two seasons. He started two games as a freshman and appeared in seven games last season in relief of Brennan. He completed 74 percent (32-for-43) of his passes for 501 yards with no interceptions and four touchdowns as a sophomore.

With Brennan returning for his senior season following a record-setting 2006 season, Graunke is slated to be the top backup again this fall. After Brennan and Graunke, sophomore Inoke Funaki and freshman Kiran Kepo'o are next in line at quarterback.