The Boise State football team lost a key blocker but not a captain with the injury to senior tight end/fullback Richie Brockel.

Brockel, one of just two senior starters, four active seniors and two full-time captains, will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury, coach Chris Petersen announced Monday.

But Petersen and defensive captain Kyle Wilson said Brockel will remain an influential figure in the locker room and on the sideline. Freshman tailback Matt Kaiserman also was lost for the year in Saturday's game against Idaho with a broken leg.

The No. 6 Broncos play Friday night at Utah State (7:30 p.m., ESPN2).

"Richie brings É probably more intangible things than he even does physically," Petersen said. "He's kind of a physical tone-setter for us on offense. ... He's probably the most mature guy we have on the entire team. For him to be out is hard, but he'll be with us."

Brockel has 32 catches, including eight touchdowns, and two touchdown runs in his career. He was mostly a blocker, an integral part of the run game.

He also is considered an NFL prospect at fullback.

Brockel was in the offensive huddle on crutches for one timeout during the Idaho game. The extent of the foot injury hasn't been determined, Petersen said.

"(Brockel) was standing there on the sideline on crutches and in street clothes and I was talking to him," Petersen said. "You wouldn't even know by his demeanor (that he was hurt). That might be one of the most impressive things I've seen from Richie since I've been here."

Sophomore Dan Paul replaces Brockel as the starting fullback. Freshman tight end Chandler Koch also could get some additional playing time.

Kaiserman was the Broncos' No. 3 tailback. He missed the first six games with a concussion but had rushed for 122 yards against Hawaii and thrown a touchdown pass against Idaho since returning.

He is the second tailback to suffer a season-ending injury this year. Junior D.J. Harper, who was leading the team in rushing at the time, tore an anterior cruciate ligament Sept. 18 at Fresno State.

Meanwhile, slot receiver Tyler Shoemaker also has an injury and his status this week is uncertain, Petersen said.

WAC HONORS PETTIS, YOUNG

Boise State junior wide receivers Austin Pettis (offense) and Titus Young (special teams) were named WAC players of the week Monday. Pettis had four touchdown catches and Young returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Idaho.

Nevada safety Jonathon Amaya (eight tackles, forced fumble) was the defensive honoree.

Boise State's internal players of the week were Pettis (offense), cornerbacks Wilson and Brandyn Thompson (defense), tailback Doug Martin (special teams, Hammer), defensive end Ryan Winterswyk (lineman), offensive lineman Zach Waller (offensive scout), defensive tackle Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe (defensive scout) and running back Drew Wright (scout special teams).

PETERSEN ADMIRES TOMEY

Petersen has known Dick Tomey since Petersen was a wide receivers coach at Oregon and Tomey was the head coach at Arizona. So it meant something to Petersen when Tomey gave him a few words of encouragement at a WAC event in 2006, Petersen's first year as a head coach.

"He must have saw the look on my face," Petersen said. "He came up and said, 'Hey, you're going to do great. You'll be fine.' I'll never forget that.

"... He's had an unbelievable career."

Tomey, now the San Jose State coach, announced his retirement Monday. He is 182-143-7 in 29 seasons at Hawaii, Arizona and San Jose State.