LARAMIE – All was not lost deep in the heart of Texas.

Wrook Brown and Tyrecus Davis, two of Wyoming's 22 players from the Lone Star State, returned home relatively healthy on the charter flight from Denton, Texas to Laramie.

The Cowboys will rely heavily on Brown, a junior nickel back from Salado, Texas, and Davis, a senior cornerback from Greenville, Texas, during the homecoming game against Air Force on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

The secondary has been ravaged by injuries through four games.

Starting free safety Wyett Ekeler has been ruled out against the Falcons after having surgery on two broken thumbs, strong safety Isaac White is questionable with a foot injury suffered during the loss at North Texas and backup safety Andrew Johnson is expected to start despite playing with a broken thumb set for surgery next week.

Brown will fill in at one of the safety spots, which is normal for his position group against Air Force as UW typically takes the nickel off the field and plays with an extra linebacker against the spread option attack.

"It's all about being disciplined, seeing your run fit and tackling. We have to tackle well this week," Brown, who had to miss the first half against North Texas after being flagged for targeting in the second half against BYU, said of preparing for Air Force. "There is some comfortability since we work on it earlier in the year. We rep a lot of the same plays and get a lot of the same looks and get to know the basics."

First-year UW head coach Jay Sawvel said Davis needs to raise his level of play for the Pokes now that he's the team's clear-cut No. 1 cornerback.

"Right now, I don't think I'm playing as the top cornerback. I've got to pick it up and play better," Davis admitted. "I've just got to get that confidence, practice hard and just get in the playbook. …

"We've got to pick it up, be the leaders and bring everybody with us."

Brown has been mentoring Malique Singleton, who played the first significant snaps of his career at nickel against North Texas. Redshirt freshman Jones Thomas also appeared in the second half at safety due to attrition.

"We're always trying to motivate the young guys and show them," said Brown, who was thrown into the lineup in 2022 as a redshirt freshman due to an injury to the starter. He made 10 tackles in his debut against New Mexico. "My example, I tell them I was in the same position before that Malique and Jones and Andrew are in now. That's how a lot of people get their first starts and you must make the most of them."

Ekeler played 842 snaps and White logged 894 snaps in 2023. The duo combined for 17 tackles against Air Force.

"I never took them off the field," said Sawvel, who was Craig Bohl's defensive coordinator from 2020-23. "We couldn't. We were in too many close games."

The Cowboys and Falcons typically meet in a hard-fought Mountain West matchup that sets the tone for the conference season.

UW limps into the game after a mentally and physically taxing 0-4 start while Air Force enjoyed an open date after a 1-2 start that included a home loss to conference foe San Jose State and a loss Big 12 opponent Baylor.

Being shorthanded in the secondary will not be an excuse on Saturday. The Falcons have only completed 15 passes this season but eye discipline from the back end will be critical against the option.

"It's tough," Brown said of being without Ekeler and possibly White. "We've got guys playing hard and you hope they stay healthy, but we've got some young guys that are hungry for an opportunity. It will be exciting to see what they can do."

Davis did not play against the Falcons last season due to an injury. He is looking forward to the challenge and helping sophomore cornerback Keany Parks prepare on the other side.

"Great eyes," Davis said of the key to defending Air Force. "Something as simple as a pick-six, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery. We just need to get it going and I believe we will. …

"A win could change the confidence; a win could change the emotions. I feel like if we get this win, we will start getting our confidence back and building on that."

Brown came up with an interception against BYU, which is the only turnover the defense has forced so far this season.

Air Force quarterback John Busha is 13-for-39 (33.3%) passing for 125 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

"We've got guys that can make the plays we just haven't been making the plays like we should top to bottom," Brown said. "Once we become more consistent that's kind of the name of the game right now."

The team has remained consistently upbeat in what has been a losing locker room to this point. The Pokes are ready to turn the page on the disappointing defeat at North Texas and write a new script in MW play.

"It's the same mood as Week 1. That hasn't changed," Davis said. "We've just got to play better. I feel like if we play well everything is going to connect."

The home team has won every game in the UW-Air Force series over the last decade. The last road breakthrough was the Cowboys' 56-23 win at Falcon Stadium in 2013.

Another large crowd is expected at War Memorial Stadium, which had back-to-back sellouts in the season's first two home games for the first time since 1967.

"It just takes one win to get the ball rolling," Brown said. "It's a great opportunity being at home because we've got great fans that are going to be loud and they're going to be passionate. I think with their help we'll turn this thing around.