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UCLA Football: Injuries are starting to plague the Bruins and Ducks

By Mike Regalado

EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on as his team warms up before the game against the Portland State Vikings at Autzen Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on as his team warms up before the game against the Portland State Vikings at Autzen Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Both the Oregon and UCLA football teams will meet for the first time with Chip Kelly as the Bruins’ coach but will be without several key players.

It is the time of the season when football teams start to collect injuries, but for the Oregon and UCLA football programs, they have a growing list of several key players that could miss this contest in Eugene on Saturday.

RELATED: UCLA’s Loss to Utah Erases Hopes Generated in Recent Weeks

Both the Bruins and Ducks lost last weekend and did so without a handful of injured players. It also did not help that both teams sustained a few more in the process.

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Oregon had started their contest against Arizona, which resulted in a 44-15 loss, without starters DE Austin Faoliu (ankle), LB Kaulana Apelu (undisclosed), and LT Penei Sewell (ankle). The Ducks were also without key reserve players TE Kano Dillon and LB Isaac Slade-Matautia (shoulder).

The status for most of these Ducks is unknown for the game against UCLA this weekend, but that might be the least of their problems. Currently, Oregon is having starting QB Justin Herbert and WR Dillon Mitchell go through concussion protocol this week.

According to OregonLive.com, head coach Mario Cristobal said, “anytime someone seems to have taken on a hit, we’re always going to take the highest level standard in terms of assessing guys to make sure safety is at the forefront, the priority.” Their status is unknown for the game against the Bruins on Saturday.

UCLA is going through a similar situation. The Bruins have already lost several players to injury since fall camp and as recent as last week with OL Justin Murphy being the latest one (he is out for the season with a knee injury), but the Bruins also sustained a few more during the Utah game last Friday.

According to Bruin Report Online, WR Kyle Philips and RB Kazmeir Allen were on the sidelines and on stationary bikes during Monday’s practice. DB Colin Samuel, who apparently injured his knee against the Utes, was not in practice. Linebackers Leni Toailoa and Krys Barnes were also shaken up against Utah, but there has been no word that they are being held out of practice. As for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, it unknown what his status for Saturday’s game is.

Next. UCLA's Play Call/Outcome Analysis from the Utah Game. dark

This is not exactly the game many were hoping for at the start of the season, but that is the nature of football. With both teams looking to bounce back from bad losses, both coaches will be looking for that edge. Still, UCLA and Oregon have other problems they have to try and solve before this weekend’s contest, injuries are just a small part of that.