Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate and tailback J.J. Taylor did not play against UCLA on Saturday night because of injuries. Will the pair return for the Wildcats’ game this upcoming Saturday at Colorado?
“Don’t know yet. We'll see what happens on Monday,” UA coach Kevin Sumlin said after the Cats’ 20-17 victory over the Bruins.
“We're not going to put those guys in harm's way with the type of injuries that they have. Those guys can be explosive players. When you have ankles or leg injuries like that, what you don't want is for something that just nags on (them) for the whole year. We'll assess that throughout the week.”
Sumlin said Tate was dealing with hamstring and ankle issues. Taylor has a sprained right ankle. Both injuries were suffered during Arizona’s previous game against Texas Tech on Sept. 14.
Sumlin said both Tate and Taylor “sat out” for most of the Wildcats’ bye week. Tate did some work this past week but Friday “was not a good day” for him physically, Sumlin said.
“He had a hamstring that was healing up,” Sumlin said. “We’ve run him in the pool. He's got an ankle too."
Freshman Grant Gunnell and junior Rhett Rodriguez shared first-team reps during the bye. Gunnell started against UCLA and passed for 352 yards and a touchdown.
Tate became an overnight sensation two years ago at Colorado, rushing for a record 327 yards and four touchdowns after coming off the bench for injured starter Brandon Dawkins. Tate has been Arizona’s starter ever since but missed time last season because of an ankle injury.
While Tate wore sweats during Saturday night’s game, Taylor dressed and participated in warmups and stretching. He hadn’t missed a game since the 2016 season, when he sat out the final eight contests because of a broken ankle.
Sumlin said Taylor “didn’t look good up until Thursday” of this past week. Four backs combined for 241 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in place of Taylor.
Photos: UCLA Bruins at Arizona Wildcats college football in Tucson
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona players celebrate after UCLA place kicker JJ Molson (17) pushed the potential tying field goal wide in the dying minutes of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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UCLA place kicker JJ Molson (17) pushes his kick wide in the final seconds of the game, giving Arizona a 20-17 win in their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona quarterback Grant Gunnell (17) gets swarmed under by the UCLA defense as he gets sacked in the fourth quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona running back Gary Brightwell (23) bowls over the UCLA defense to score the winning points late in the fourth quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona wide receiver Cedric Peterson (18) fends off UCLA linebacker Josh Woods (2) for a few extra yards on his catch and run in the fourth quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona running back Bam Smith cruises into the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona linebacker Colin Schooler (7), top, and defensive end Justin Belknap (86) stop UCLA running back Joshua Kelley (27) at the line in the third quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona safety Scottie Young Jr. (6) pops the ball out of the hands UCLA tight end Devin Asiasi (86) printing him from making the catch in their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona linebacker Tony Fields II (1) does a celebratory dance after bringing down UCLA running back Joshua Kelley (27) behind the line of scrimmage in the third quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona defensive end Jalen Harris (49) harries UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) out of the pocket and into dumping the ball in the third quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019. Thompson-Robinson ended up on the turf and left the game for good after the play.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona cornerback Jace Whittaker (17) comes in just in time to swat the ball out of the hands of UCLA wide receiver Jaylen Erwin (15) in the fourth quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona running back J.J. Taylor (21), front, and quarterback Khalil Tate (14), both on the bench with injuries, watch the final second of the Wildcats 20-17 win over UCLA at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona wide receiver Tayvian Cunningham (11) gets squeezed by the UCLA defense after his catch in the first quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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UCLA wide receiver Jaylen Erwin (15) stiff-arms his way over Arizona cornerback Lorenzo Burns (2) after his catch in the first quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona wide receiver Tayvian Cunningham (11) can't quite skip out of the hit from UCLA defensive back Rayshad Williams (3) in their football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona place kicker Lucas Havrisik (43) gestures skywards after hitting a field goal against UCLA in the second quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona wide receiver Brian Casteel (5) slips out of the arms of UCLA defensive back Jay Shaw (24) to pick up more yardage after his catch in the second quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona running back Darrius Smith (20) runs past UCLA linebacker Je'Vari Anderson (43) and has the umpire dodging on his run up the middle in the fourth quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, left, gestures that the Wildcats held UCLA short on a fourth down attempt in the first quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona freshman QB Grant Gunnell showed mental and physical toughness during his first career start.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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UCLA defensive back Stephan Blaylock (4), left, and defensive lineman Tyler Manoa (50) run down Arizona wide receiver Jamarye Joiner (10) after his catch in the third quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
Arizona vs UCLA football
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Arizona linebacker Colin Schooler (7) lets go with a roar after nailing UCLA running back Joshua Kelley (27) in the backfield in the second quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
Arizona vs UCLA football
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UCLA running back Joshua Kelley (27) gets stacked up by a host of Arizona defenders on an unsuccessful run in the first quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
Arizona vs UCLA football
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Arizona defensive end Jalen Harris (49) muscles his way over UCLA wide receiver Demetric Felton (10) to flush quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) out of the pocket in the second quarter of their Pac-12 football game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
Arizona vs UCLA football
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Arizona QB Khalil Tate burst into prominence at Colorado in 2017. Will he be able to play there Saturday?
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Arizona freshman QB Grant Gunnell never let the pressure of the moment get to him Saturday night.
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Arizona tailback Bam Smith has elected to opt out of the 2020 football season.
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Will Khalil Tate has dazzled with his play, but is turning the ball over too much.
Arizona Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins football
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Arizona defensive end Justin Belknap (86), left, and defensive end Jalen Harris (49) hit the pads on the goalposts as the Wildcats get ready to face UCLA at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
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Arizona wide receiver Jaden Mitchell (7) goes high as he and a few other receivers work on bringing down high throws into the corner of the end zone as the Wildcats prepare to face UCLA at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Sept. 28, 2019.
