Senior quarterback Logan Bushnell started Idaho’s first game of the year while starter Dominique Blackman served a suspension. With Blackman no longer on the team, Bushnell will get another start Saturday against San Jose State, interim coach Jason Gesser said Monday.

Junior Taylor Davis will also see some time.

“Those guys have a new life. They both have the capability and they have the physical talent and mental capacity to go out there and be our starting quarterback,” Gesser said.

Bushnell has played five games, completing 14-of-30 passes for 178 yards with two interceptions and no TDs. Davis, who started three games last year including a comeback victory against San Jose State, has played in one game this year. In eight career games, he has completed 34-of-70 passes for 275 yards. He has four interceptions and one touchdown.

Blackman threw 13 interceptions and nine touchdowns in seven games this season.

“It’s not just about having the arm or great passes here and there. It’s about understanding the game,” said Gesser, who will continue to serve as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. “It’s about not turning the ball over, which is one thing Dom had struggled with.”

The Spokesman-Review reported that Blackman and senior linebacker Conrad Scheidt were dismissed from the team for failing multiple drug tests. Gesser did not give a specific reason for their dismissals, but said it was not the first time Blackman had violated team rules.

“They know the rules. They know the regulations. They know the policy and those individuals made those choices to break those rules,” Gesser said. “It was a choice that they made. It wasn’t a choice that I made. They know what the rules are.”

Gesser replaced Robb Akey on Oct. 21 — and now he is without his starting quarterback.

“The last seven days have felt like a month for me,” Gesser said.

ELMO SUSPENDED FOR MORE THAN TWEET

Junior tight end Taylor Elmo is serving an indefinite suspension but he will continue to practice with the team during his suspension.

“It’s something we’ll revisit later on. It is something that we are looking at weekly,” Gesser said.

After coach Robb Akey was fired, Elmo tweeted that Athletic Director Rob Spear had made the decision to save his own job.

The school does have a social media policy. It is included in the student-athlete handbook that each player signs. It considers comments “degrading coaches or other athletic department personnel” as one of the inappropriate behaviors subject to penalties including suspension. Gesser said Elmo’s tweet is not the sole reason he was suspended.

“It was more than just that. It was a handful of things that started leading up to that point,” Gesser said.

Gesser said the football program and athletic department would consider a new policy after the season. Several programs, including Boise State, ban football players from Twitter.

Brian Murphy: 377-6444,Twitter: @MurphsTurph