Offensive line takes a hit

As if matters weren't delicate enough along the UCLA offensive line trying to incorporate two freshmen into the rotation against a motivated defensive unit, but the Bruins could be without one of their few veteran linemen for a while after fifth-year senior guard Nick Ekbatani went down midway through afternoon practice with an MCL injury in his left knee.

Ekbatani is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday.

"He's going to be down for a bit," coach Rick Neuheisel said. "You hate to have an injury on the O-line, but unfortunately that's part of the deal. Somebody's going to have to step up (in his absence), which is always the case."

Defensive lineman Jess Ward also missed practice with an MCL injury in his right knee, which was heavily bandaged and secured with a brace. Freshman defensive back Andrew Abbott was held out for precautionary reasons with a concussion.

For the second straight day of workouts with full pads, freshmen Xavier Su'a-Filo and Stanley Hasiak worked out with the first-team offensive line.