Terry Caulley’s days as the featured running back for the University of Connecticut football team ended last week, when redshirt freshman Donald Brown was named the team’s starting tailback.

Now, Caulley’s career is in jeopardy after a broken bone in his hand suffered during the Huskies’ 46-45 double-overtime win against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

UConn coach Randy Edsall said Sunday that Caulley, a senior who saw action as Brown’s backup against the Panthers, will undergo surgery today. Asked if Caulley’s career might be over as a result, Edsall said it was possible. The Huskies (4-5, 1-3) have three games left in the regular season starting with Saturday’s game at Syracuse.

“It happened in the first quarter on a pass play,” Edsall said. “He caught a pass, put his hand down (and he was being tackled) and bent it back.”

The reception, which went for five yards, was the only time Caulley touched the ball. He did not have a carry.

In September, Caulley became UConn’s career leader in rushing yards when he passed Wilbur Gilliard’s old mark of 2,689 yards. Caulley went on to become the first Huskie to pass 3,000 yards before an ankle injury sidelined him for the Rutgers game on Oct. 29.

The ankle injury to Caulley turned out to be Brown’s big break as he rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns and was named starter for the rest of the season prior to the Pittsburgh game. Caulley was expected to get situational carries and used as a slot receiver for the remainder of the season.

Caulley was a freshman All-American in 2002 when he ran for 1,247 yards and 15 touchdowns, and was leading the nation in rushing as a sophomore when a severe knee injury in the fifth game against Virginia Tech ended his season.

He missed the entire 2004 season recovering from surgery, returning last season to lead the team with 659 yards and six touchdowns.

Caulley has run for 623 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.

Hicks out for Syracuse

Seymour’s Mike Hicks suffered sprains of his ankle and knee against Pittsburgh, and has been ruled out for Saturday’s game at Syracuse.

Hicks, a 6-foot-7, 338-pound redshirt freshman, has started at right tackle all season. He was helped off the field in the third quarter after being injured. Initial diagnosis is a high ankle sprain and sprained medial collateral knee ligament.

Redshirt freshman Andrew Presnell filled in for Hicks Saturday and will start at Syracuse. Only senior Matt Applebaum remains from the Huskies original five offensive linemen. Center Keith Gray and left tackle William Beatty suffered season-ending injuries while guard Immanuel Hutcherson was replaced by Brian Kersmanc Saturday.

Extra points

Edsall awarded game balls to quarterback D.J. Hernandez and Brown on offense and tackle Rhema Fuller on defense. The special teams game ball went to holder Matt Bonislawski, who corralled a bad snap and got it in place for kicker Tony Ciaravino to boot a crucial extra point at the end of regulation that tied the game at 31-31 and sent it to overtime.