Hinds to have knee checked

ELY -- UNLV's quarterbacks were put in live situations Monday -- meaning they were allowed to be hit -- but junior Rocky Hinds wasn't among them.

Hinds was in Southern California to have his swollen, surgically repaired right knee examined by his doctor, Dr. Clarence Shields, at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Shields performed the operation on Hinds' anterior cruciate ligament in January, which was torn last season.

Hinds left camp Sunday hoping to meet with Shields on Monday. The doctor was not available, so the appointment is today. Hinds is expected to return to training camp tonight or Wednesday.

"We'll know a lot more in the next few days," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "I'm not an expert on that, so I don't want to surmise anything."

Hinds was listed as a co-starter with redshirt freshman Travis Dixon entering camp. With Hinds being kept out of team drills, Dixon has been running the first-team offense.

"A lot of people didn't believe me, but we had a quarterback competition," Sanford said. "It was legitimately from the start a competition between Rocky Hinds and Travis Dixon. I don't know where it's going to go from here."

On Monday, Dixon and junior Dack Ishii received their share of pops from defensive ends and linebackers while operating the shotgun spread.

"In order for anybody to be our starting quarterback to play in the first game (Aug. 30 at Utah State), that person is going to have to go live," Sanford said. "In this offense, our quarterback has to be able to run. And you have to ... have been in the heat of the battle prior to the first game. The first game can't be the first time you get hit and have a big rush coming at you."

• INJURY UPDATE -- Junior Jeremy Geathers (slight concussion and pinched nerve) and senior Elton Shackelford (groin), both defensive ends, did not practice Monday afternoon.

Sophomore linebacker Jason Beauchamp (right hamstring) was held out the entire day, but is expected to return soon.

Sophomore guard Perry Eppenger, who went to Cheyenne High School, had a pinched nerve and "a bad headache," Sanford said, in the morning practice, but returned for the second session.

• COMMITMENT -- UNLV picked up a commitment from linebacker Travis Trickey (6 feet 3 inches, 220 pounds) of Round Valley High School in Springerville, Ariz. The two-star Scout.com prospect made 118 tackles last season, including two sacks.