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LARAMIE – Whether Josh Allen plays in the University of Wyoming's bowl game remains uncertain, but there is reason for optimism.

UW's junior starting quarterback missed the last two games of the regular season with a sprained right throwing shoulder, which occurred late in the first half Nov. 11 against Air Force. UW found out Sunday it will play Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at 2 p.m. Dec. 22 in Boise, Idaho.

"The shoulder is getting better day by day. I've been getting back in the swing of things with some seven-on-seven and some plays in team sessions the last couple of days of practice," Allen said Monday.

"It felt good. (The shoulder) still isn't where I want it to be or it needs to be. There are some throws I still feel some pain, and some I don't feel anything."

Fourth-year UW coach Craig Bohl spoke to the media Monday via conference call, as he was on the road recruiting.

"The arrow is pointing up as far as his progression," Bohl said. "Is he 100 percent? I don't know if that's quite accurate, but he's pretty far along.

"I'd say it is very probable that he'd be 100 percent (for the bowl game)."

Added Allen: "If I'm 100 percent, I'm playing in the game. I owe that to this university and to this team. I want to play. I'm not the type of guy to sit out just to sit out because of what the future may hold."

The future is the NFL, where Allen has been projected to be a high-round pick in the 2018 draft.

Allen said sitting out the bowl game and focusing on the next chapter of his football career isn't something he's interested in if he's healthy.

"That's not the way I look at it. There were 12 other games, so what's one more going to do? It might be a meaningless game in terms of winning a conference championship, but there's a lot on the line: a chance to get to eight wins, help with the confidence within the program and with recruiting – things a lot of people don't take into account."

Allen graduates in a couple of weeks, although he does have one more year of eligibility with UW. So if he plays in the bowl game, will that be his last game for the Cowboys?

"We're still figuring some things out," Allen said. "The future is what it is. We'll control what we can control right now, and that's focusing on this game."

Allen said he hopes to make a decision after the bowl game, or a few days after it, about his future plans.

Injury report

Junior offensive guard Kaden Jackson and true freshman defensive tackle Javaree Jackson (no relation) both suffered knee injuries in UW's regular-season finale Nov. 25 at San Jose State.

Bohl said "there's an opportunity" for Kaden Jackson to play in the bowl game, but that's still an uncertainty. Bohl said Javaree Jackson will play.

Juggling act

UW has a lot going on in terms of recruiting and getting ready for this bowl game. This is the first year of the NCAA's early signing period for college football, which is Dec. 20-22.

Coaches have been on the road recruiting since the day after the San Jose State game, and will continue through most of this week. Bohl said the team will resume bowl practices Thursday and through the weekend after a few light workouts last week.

Players will soon be taking final exams.

"We have a lot of balls up in the air that we're juggling, but we're juggling them fine right now," Bohl said.

Ticket update

"Ticket sales were pretty strong this [Monday] morning," UW athletics director Tom Burman said.

UW and Central Michigan both have a requirement to sell at least $125,000 worth of tickets. At $50 per ticket, that is 2,500 per school.

"It is too early to tell if we will meet that requirement, but the phones are ringing, and orders are coming in," Burman said.

"We are going to push hard to get as many Wyoming folks as we can to Boise. Wyoming fans know we can't take bowl games for granted. We need to be fired up to be there. I think they will show up in force and support their football team."

UW fans should purchase tickets through the school because if they go through other outlets, that won't count toward its financial obligation.

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets by 5 p.m. today to be part of the first seating allocation and get the best seats available.

Also, UW is partnering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho on tickets. Fans who can't go to the game but want to purchase tickets can do so, and those tickets will go to kids in the Boise area.

To buy tickets, or for more information, go online at http://www.gowyo.com/tickets or call 307-766-7220.