UCLA’s starting quarterback could be a game-time decision this week when the Bruins square off with Arizona State on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl.
Quarterback Ethan Garbers was not seen during the media viewing period at Monday’s practice, according to reports.
Garbers made his third consecutive start and played through the first three quarters in UCLA’s loss to Arizona on Saturday. Garbers was injured with 14:17 left in the fourth quarter after he was sacked by defensive lineman Russell Davis II for a 7-yard loss. He was unable to put weight on his left foot following the play.
Quarterback Dante Moore was spotted at practice by reporters without his helmet on, unlike his teammates.
“Dante is handled by the trainers,” Coach Chip Kelly said when asked if Moore was in concussion protocol. “Everybody is handled through our trainers.”
Collin Schlee and Chase Griffin would be among the backup quarterbacks available on Saturday (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network) if Moore or Garbers couldn’t play for the Bruins (6-3 overall, 3-3 Pac-12) against the Sun Devils (2-7, 1-5).
Center Duke Clemens said there was some self-reflecting that happened after the game on Saturday.
“It’s definitely hard, especially being an offensive lineman,” Clemens said. “You kind of put that on yourself. You wish you could keep these guys up and things like that but I guess that’s the nature of the game.”
Clemens believes there’s an opportunity for “at least one guy” to return later this week but has expressed full trust in whichever quarterback leads the offense this week.
“I trust anybody in the back behind me,” Clemens said. “I just hope that they can trust us. We got to do better up front.”
CHANGE UP
Montana State transfer Blake Glessner took on extra responsibility this week, aside from handling kickoffs for the Bruins.
Glessner handled field goal duties for the Arizona game in place of R.J. Lopez, who served as the primary option for all field goal attempts through the first eight games of the season.
Glessner went 1 for 3 against the Wildcats, making a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter but missing a 42-yard attempt in the first quarter and a 42-yard attempt in the second quarter. The 42-yard attempt was blocked by Arizona’s Ephesians Prysock.
“We had a breakdown inside with protection,” Kelly said. “A guy got turned the way he shouldn’t have got turned and shortened the edge and gave the kid an opportunity to come off the edge. We’ll get that corrected this week in practice.”
Glessner also made an extra point field goal following UCLA’s touchdown in the final seconds before halftime.
Kelly “decided to make the switch” to Glessner after he beat out Lopez for the job following “a little competition during the week.”
Lopez went 6 for 11 on field goal attempts with two of them being blocked this season.
He was 1 for 2 on field goals from 20-29 yards away and 1 for 4 from a range of 40-49. He was 4 for 5 from a range of 30 to 39.
Lopez was also 32 of 33 on PATs this season.
RECEIVING OPTIONS
Wide receiver Kyle Ford is expected to be available this week to prepare for the game on Saturday.
Kelly confirmed that Ford was unavailable for the game against Arizona in Tuscon over the weekend but didn’t give further specifics.
Receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala remains “unavailable,” according to Kelly. Mokiao-Atimalala has not played in a game this season for UCLA.
The Central Florida transfer finished the 2022 season with 17 receptions for 290 yards and a touchdown in 13 games played.
