Quarterback Jalen Kitna is expected to receive his first start for UAB on Saturday in the Blazers’ home game against Tulane.

UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno injured his non-throwing shoulder in UAB’s loss to Navy last week, according to UAB coach Trent Dilfer. Dilfer said that Zeno had an MRI on Tuesday and has had trouble lifting his arm.

Officially, Dilfer said that Kitna’s debut is undecided, but UAB’s second-year coach, a former NFL quarterback, indicated that if Zeno doesn’t improve on Thursday then he would be ruled out for Saturday’s game.

“In NFL terms, he’d probably be listed as questionable and I’d have to give it a questionable/doubtful [Thursday],” Dilfer said.

Dilfer made a point to note that there is still a chance that Zeno, a redshirt senior, could play against Tulane.

Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, transferred to UAB after playing at Florida. He was dismissed from Florida after being arrested on five counts of child pornography but the charges were later dropped after a non-contest plea deal.

The all-time record between UAB (1-3, 0-1 in AAC) and Tulane (3-2, 1-0) stands at 6-6. Kickoff is set for noon at Protective Stadium.