Ever had to break bad news to someone and opted to bury the lead? I mean, you call home and say, “Hey, mom, I got that promotion at work and an extra week of vacation, should be home in plenty of time for Christmas, found that jersey dad wanted, sent granny a birthday card, met a girl I really think everyone will like and, oh, I backed over the mail box and tore the bumper your the station wagon.”

Well, Tuesday afternoon Bill Stewart was nearing the end of his press conference in which he reviewed the Marshall game, praised Rutgers, updated injuries to Pat Liebig and Jim Lewis and talked about what remains to be seen from the Jarrett Brown package — we need to name that — when an inquiring mind wondered how Reed Williams was doing two games into his recovery.

“Well, he’s questionable.”

Come again?

“We’ll watch him and see how he does. Saturday, he was good, but the guy’s hurt. The guy’s played hurt in the past. I just want to make sure he doesn’t get hurt worse. We’ll see how he does.”

This is interesting because if Williams plays against Rutgers, he cannot take a medical redshirt. If he’s hurt that badly — and he is in pain, make no mistake — and doesn’t play and cannot continue, he can redshirt. Right now, the plan is to play Saturday, but today’s practice is the first of three this week. Whatever improvement he’s experienced since Saturday could come undone sometime between now and kickoff.

“I see things people don’t see. He’s hurting,” Stewart said.

The arrangement will be the same in the end as it was in the beginning. Stewart is trusting Williams.

“You’re your own best doctor. I tell everyone here I want them to be honest with me because you’re the expert of your body. Please be honest with me. How’s that? How’s this? Then we’ll make the call and make the best decision.”