KU’s captain is willing to give up a season of eligibility to play in the Jayhawks’ final two games, but his motives are different than what fans might expect.

“You’re not guaranteed tomorrow,” Watkins said Tuesday at KU’s weekly news conference. “Anything could happen. I could break my leg in the offseason. If I’m 100 percent, I want to be out on the field helping my team. That’s what I’m here to do, and that’s what they gave me a scholarship to do. If we were 0-10, I’d still want to go out there and play.

“The lure of a bowl game is not what’s making me want to play. I think they can win the next two games with or without me and be able to win a bowl game with or without me. I just want to be part of it.”

Watkins has watched from the sideline as the Jayhawks (5-5 overall, 2-4 Big 12 Conference) have posted their largest victory total since 1999. KU would become bowl-eligible with a victory in either of its final two regular-season games, and the Jayhawks’ odds of doing that might be better with a healthy Watkins.

The two-year starter broke his left foot in a scrimmage Aug. 13 and originally was expected to return by the Baylor game Oct. 18. Instead, he returned to practice on a limited basis two weeks ago and was cleared to practice at full speed last week.

He suited for the first time Saturday and went through pregame warmups but was held out of KU’s 24-3 loss to Nebraska.

“He wanted to play, but he was limping,” said KU coach Mark Mangino, whose defense is allowing an average of 405 yards and 28.9 points per game. “He was not pushing off of his foot completely. After the game he realized he was glad he didn’t go out there because if he’s not 100 percent, then he can’t help the team. We are keeping an eye on him this week. We could use him, but we can’t put him in harm’s way.”

Watkins said that if he did play Saturday at Oklahoma State (7-3, 3-3), he likely would be “subbing in and out” because he’s not in top playing condition after being on crutches for more than two months.

Meanwhile, Mangino said his staff was considering moving red-shirt freshman offensive lineman Travis Dambach to defensive tackle. Dambach is listed on KU’s roster as 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, but Mangino said the Jackson, Mo., product had beefed up to 290. Dambach has played sparingly as Tony Coker’s backup at right guard.

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Players of the week: Freshman receiver Charles Gordon, who also played defense and special teams against Nebraska, was named KU’s offensive player of the week after making six catches for 47 yards. Gordon also had five tackles and broke up a pass as a backup cornerback.

Safety Jonathan Lamb took defensive honors after making seven tackles and an interception. Scout-team players of the week were freshman receiver Garrett Guzman and senior defensive tackle Tony Strickland.

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Whittemore waiting: Mangino backed away from comments he made Monday that indicated injured senior quarterback Bill Whittemore might return for the OSU game.

“Based on what I saw last night, I would have to say he can’t play this week,” Mangino said. “Our doctors and trainers say his progress comes on a daily basis. We just have to stay with it. We are preparing Adam Barmann right now to the be the starter and play the game at Oklahoma State.”

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