A day after taking a big step forward, UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut took a hobbling step back.
Brehaut suffered a sprained foot late in Monday’s afternoon practice, and was held out Tuesday and listed as day to day. His status for Saturday’s scrimmage is in doubt.
Brehaut said he felt pain after his foot bent awkwardly on UCLA’s artificial turf twice Monday and was walking gingerly off the practice field, but really noticed the injury when his foot swelled after he took off his cleats. Brehaut had an MRI on Tuesday morning, and the results were negative.
“Walking off the field yesterday, I didn’t expect to miss practice this evening,” Brehaut said. “Once I took my ankle brace off and my cleat off, blood rushed
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down to my leg and that’s when it really started hurting, but those X-rays were negative and it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back out there.”
Still, it’s a crushing blow to Brehaut’s hopes for the starting nod in his competition with Kevin Prince, particularly after several sharp days in a row. Prince, though, continued to struggle with his accuracy Tuesday, drawing Rick Neuheisel’s ire.
“He was better today but still not as sharp as he needs to be,” Neuheisel said. “I think there’s more in him. There are some balls he’s missing that he needs to hit. You can’t be thinking about your feet, you’ve got to play. You’ve got to take what you do in drill work to the practice field.”
Prince, to his credit, accepts and
understands his recent struggles, blaming them on poor footwork and fundamentals. He stayed after practice to work on the simple throw-and-catch with wide receiver Ricky Marvray, and he recalled a poor week of practice during his redshirt freshman year that was followed immediately by a 300-yard passing performance against Oregon State.
“I’m just not putting the ball where it needs to be,” Prince said. “It’s not necessarily a mental thing. My confidence is there. I think it’s more a mechanical thing, just not getting my feet in the right place. I feel good about the fact I’m picking the right wide receiver to throw to, I’m just not giving it to them.”
Instant returns
Junior college transfer Albert Cid played predominantly with the first team at guard Tuesday for the first time, impressing with his strength and footwork for a 330-pounder.
“He’s been in our plans all along,” offensive line coach Bob Palcic said. “I thought he’s been doing a good-enough job in a short-enough time that he deserves a look.”
Sophomores Chris Ward and Greg Capella and redshirt freshman Wade Yandall continue to work in the two-deep at the position, though Ward was demoted for the day to the second unit as the staff tries to inspire competition.
Bumps and bruises
Vanderbilt transfer cornerback Jamie Graham has torn cartilage in his right knee and will have surgery that will likely keep him out 3 to 4 weeks. … Linebacker Jordan Zumwalt switched to a red no-contact jersey and could return today, while wide receiver Taylor Embree (calf), F-back Damien Thigpen (hamstring), defensive tackle Cassius Marsh (groin), linebacker Patrick Larimore (hip) and safety Tevin McDonald (hamstring) remain out.
jon.gold@dailynews.com