PISCATAWAY -- In the best-case scenario for Rutgers, the backup quarterback won't play Saturday against No. 14 Washington.

But just in case...

Rutgers still has not decided whether TCU graduate transfer Zach Allen or Giovanni Rescigno will be its No. 2 quarterback, which is a surprise considering Allen lost a narrowed-down two-man training camp battle to Chris Laviano.

But Rutgers coach Chris Ash resisted naming Allen as the primary backup at the same time he named Laviano as the starter. He is giving Allen and Rescigno two extra weeks of practice to figure out who would win that job.

Ash does plan to decide prior to kickoff, however.

"We will name a backup quarterback or at least identify who would be the first one to go in the game if something happened to Chris here this week," Ash said.

Rescigno came on during the second half of training camp -- he accounted for two touchdowns (one passing and one rushing) during the first scrimmage. From there, he appeared to supplant Hayden Rettig as Allen's biggest threat.

Rettig was Laviano's chief backup last season and played in five games, including starting the season-opener for a suspended Laviano. The LSU transfer is not listed among the top three quarterbacks, though offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer said Rettig is "right in there."

Allen arrived at Rutgers in June profiling as the ideal dual-threat to run offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer's power spread scheme. But he wasn't as consistent -- particularly with this throwing -- as Laviano, who pulled away during the second week of training camp.

Some of Allen's rust can be attributed to throwing only two passes over one game in three years at TCU. He actually moved to wide receiver last season just to get on the field.

"Zach and Gio both have a good understanding of what we are trying to do offensively, they both practice very hard, they both good leadership abilities," Mehringer said. "One of the things I think both of them to have to have is they have to be more consistent in day-to-day practices. Hayden Rettig's the same way."

All indications are that Ash will have a shorter leash with Laviano than predecessor Kyle Flood, though Ash's most recent comments are that he does not intend to rotate two quarterbacks in certain situations.

"Laviano is our quarterback," Ash said. "Right now, the way someone else would play would be due to an injury or we're up in the game to the point where we felt comfortable putting another quarterback in."

Punter Michael Cintron has been the holder on special teams -- a job that sometimes goes to the backup quarterback.

Rutgers released an official depth chart Monday and it included Justin Goodwin, who had a strong training camp, as the starting halfback over Josh Hicks and Robert Martin.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.