WKU's receiving corps could be short a very important part when the Hilltoppers welcome Central Arkansas to Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium this Saturday.

Senior Jake Gaebler is questionable with a hamstring injury, WKU head coach David Elson told reporters at his weekly media luncheon on Monday.

"Those are always tough to deal with," Elson said. "It was lingering throughout camp, you know - he missed days - so we'll just have to wait and see. But I'm not real optimistic about him for this week."

Gaebler had just three catches for 11 yards in the Hilltoppers' first two games, but is the program's active career leader with 128 catches for 1,441 yards. He's also the team's primary punt returner and had a 23-yard return in a 35-13 loss to the University of South Florida on Saturday - a return on which he may have aggravated the hamstring injury.

Gaebler's absence could also be a blow to a receiving unit of the that hasn't produced much so far in 2009. WKU's thrown for just 133 yards in its first two games and Quinterrance Cooper leads all Hilltopper wideouts with just four catches for 43 yards. No other wideout has more than 17 yards receiving.

"I've always said they're starters for a reason because they're the ones you want out there," Elson said. "So it hurts you. But we've developed an attitude and a philosophy that, hey, the next guy's got to step up and play."

Elson said the only other player to emerge from Saturday's game with injury concerns was starting center Cody Hughes, who had a bruised shin. Elson said he'd know more about Hughes' condition Tuesday.