Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said yesterday that starting outside linebacker Adam Gunn is likely out for the remainder of the season after an MRI revealed a fracture in one of the vertebrae in his neck. Gunn was injured during a helmet-to-helmet collision with teammate Scott McKillop in the third quarter of the Panthers' 27-17 loss to Bowling Green Saturday.

"He met with the doctor this morning and he does have a small fracture in one of his vertebrae," Wannstedt said. "He is out indefinitely and it could be the year."

Gunn, a fifth-year senior from Kiski Area, who had been listed as "day-to-day" because of a concussion he suffered on the same hit, will be replaced in the starting lineup by redshirt freshman Greg Williams, with redshirt sophomore Nate Nix and redshirt freshman Brandon Lindsey competing for playing time at that spot as well.

Wannstedt said the loss of Gunn will be difficult, particularly since the status of Pitt's other starting outside linebacker, Shane Murray (knee), is still questionable for Saturday's game against Buffalo.

Wannstedt said he is more concerned with Gunn's health than anything football-related.

"He is one of our leaders; he was as good as a leader and role model off the field as he was on the field," Wannstedt said. "Adam is a heck of a guy, a heck of a player and hopefully we can get him back here at some point. But we've been rotating the three guys behind him and they all do some things differently and we'll probably play all three to see who gets a hot hand and then stick with him, to be honest with you."