University of Hawai'i football player Leonard Peters said he will not miss any games or practices despite being diagnosed with a "broken cartilage" in his rib cage.

X-rays taken Tuesday afternoon showed the damage, said Peters, who is the starting free safety and a tri-captain.

"He's probably going to be sore for six to eight weeks," UH head coach June Jones said. "If he keeps playing on it, he'll be sore all year. It's a tough injury to go through if you're trying to hit people."

Peters said he suffered the injury during the third quarter of Saturday's 25-17 loss to Alabama.

He did not notify the trainers of the extent of the injury for fear of being removed from the game. He finished with 10 tackles and a forced fumble.

He wears a padded wrap during practices.

"I have to play with the pain, which is OK," Peters said. "They said the cartilage is broken, whatever that means. I played through pain before. It shouldn't be a problem."

During his six-year UH career, Peters has suffered injuries to his spleen, shoulders, knees, ankles and arms. He played the entire 2003 season with a torn ligament in his left shoulder.

"I can play through the pain," Peters said. "I'm not going to miss any games. My legs are fine, and I can still use my arms. The only thing is (the injured area is) my core. It connects to everything. But I'll be all right."

VEIKUNE MOVES INSIDE

In a surprise move, David Veikune yesterday practiced exclusively as a nose tackle on the first-team defense. Michael Lafaele, the starting nose tackle, is not practicing this week because of a sore left heel.

Veikune was a defensive end at Campbell High School, the University of Colorado and Fresno City College.

"I've never played (nose tackle) before," he said. "It's a tough position to learn."

Veikune said he is 6 feet 3 and 255 pounds. In comparison, the average weight of the other UH nose tackles is 301 pounds.

But Jeff Reinebold, who coaches the defensive linemen, said Veikune provides a different look.

"He gives you some quickness in there," Reinebold said.

Veikune has run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds. He also can bench press 465 pounds.

"I thought he looked a little tentative," Reinebold said. "He doesn't understand right yet about the violence you have to play with in there. It's a different game when you have all of those bodies, and you have to be more physical than you are at end. If he figures it out, because he's got some athletic ability, he'll be a good one."

Veikune said: "I wasn't violent enough. I have to work on that. I've got to gain some weight. You can get three guys on you."

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