UCLA Football Injury Update

PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Darnay Holmes #1 of the UCLA Bruins breaks up a pass play intended for JJ Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 24, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

UCLA Football Injury Update: All Clear Minus One

UCLA Football received arguably its best news of the offseason: As of today, UCLA will have all of its roster, minus one, available to play against the Cincinnati Bearcats. According to Chip Kelly this is the “healthiest” any of his teams has ever been to start a season. That bodes well for UCLA’s matchup with Cincinnati, which is expected to be a close affair (the betting line for the game stands at UCLA +3).

RELATED: Check out our previews of the Cincinnati Bearcats Run Game and Passing Game.

This offseason saw many players in no-contact jerseys due to lingering or new injuries, from WR Theo Howard (hand/wrist surgery), OL Alec Anderson (leg injury/surgery), RB Kazmeir Allen (undisclosed), RB Joshua Kelley (leg injury), OL Sam Marrazzo (undisclosed), DB Darnay Holmes (leg injury), WR Dymond Lee (ankle surgery), to LB Tyree Thompson, among others. Now, with the exception of Thompson, who has not participated in practice in any capacity since his injury, all of these injured players are out of their no-contact jerseys and are more or less full participants in practice.

It remains to be seen if starters Joshua Kelley, Theo Howard, and Alec Anderson are recovered sufficiently to start the game against Cincinnati, though reports suggest that Kelley and Howard are the most likely to participate. Darnay Holmes is reportedly back in his starting position. It is arguable that Kelley and Anderson are not necessary to beat the Bearcats, though UCLA and Chip Kelly would certainly be happy to see them fully recovered come gametime Thursday.