Injury update: Tailback Jordon James closer to full health


— Running back Jordon James is also expected to play after missing five of UCLA’s last six games. Coach Jim Mora admitted that he should not have let James play against Colorado, a game in which the junior tweaked his ankle after six carries.

“That’s on me,” he said. “He wanted to play, but sometimes the coach’s job is to protect him from himself. … But he’s really been good this week.

“Last week, when he was going to his left and trying to catch a swing pass, he couldn’t put his right foot in the ground and burst off of it. This week, I haven’t seen anything. I haven’t seen him limp, I haven’t seen him favor it at all on any of the cuts.”

Senior Malcolm Jones has also been cleared to play after taking a blow to the head on Friday. He had trouble standing up immediately after the injury, and how many carries he might get is still uncertain.

Mora called linebacker Myles Jack’s offensive workload a “play-it-by-ear” situation.

— Receiver Devin Fuller (undisclosed) is a game-time decision.

— Left tackle Simon Goines may return by the end of the regular season. UCLA has started three true freshmen since he went down with a knee injury on Oct. 19, but the sophomore could come back and contribute in a reserve role this month.

“He’s been doing really well with his treatment,” Jim Mora said. “It’d be a heck of a bonus if we could suit him up (this weekend).”

Goines still has his right knee wrapped, but is no longer limping noticeably.

— Mora went in pretty hard on the Will Sutton praise: “He’s got John Randle-type explosiveness. He’s got Warren Sapp-type pass-rush ability. … He’s absolutely for sure a first-round pick. He might be a top-five, top-ten pick.”