UCLA left tackle Conor McDermott undergoes MRI on knee

UPDATE: McDermott’s MRI showed no ligament damage.

UCLA left tackle Conor McDermott was scheduled to undergo an MRI on his knee Tuesday evening, but the injury is not expected to be serious.

“He has no swelling,” said head coach Jim Mora. “He really has very little pain. He felt a tiny little pop, so we just wanted to get it checked out. … He’s got no instability. Nothing like that.”

McDermott went down during Monday night’s practice, but walked off the field without a significant limp. Jake Brendel and Alex Redmond were the other offensive linemen who were also left practice on Monday, but Mora said there are no injuries or issues concerning the latter. Brendel is day-to-day with a calf injury.

In the absence of UCLA’s two most valuable linemen, the Bruins moved Redmond to center today while playing true freshman Fred Ulu-Perry at right guard. Redshirt freshman Kolton Miller took McDermott’s place at left tackle.

“Really, the only thing he lacks is experience,” Mora said of Miller. “He’s athletic. He’s very smart. He understands it. He’s got a lot of confidence right now. Maybe it’s a little bit of a blessing that he’s going to get some work with the ones.”

Tevita Halalilo has also been sidelined with a concussion. Mora said the true freshman guard experienced nausea on an exercise bike recently, and will be monitored for at least a few more days before returning.

» Freshman running back Bolu Olorunfunmi is day-to-day with an injured ankle, while senior Steve Manfro is back on campus recovering from a minor procedure on his meniscus. Even without them, Mora said there is no chance that cornerback Adarius Pickett moves to the backfield — where he practiced briefly last year.

“We’ve got a really good backfield,” Mora said.

He then named the running backs available in what could be interpreted as an approximate depth chart: Paul Perkins, Nate Starks, Olorunfunmi, Soso Jamabo, Steve Manfro, Roosevelt Davis, Craig Lee.