The Arizona Wildcats will be without two of their most important offensive players for tonight's game against UCLA.
Quarterback Khalil Tate and tailback J.J. Taylor will miss the Cats' Pac-12 opener because of injuries.
Tate reportedly injured his hamstring late in the fourth quarter of Arizona's game against Texas Tech on Sept.l 14. Taylor hurt his right lower leg in the second quarter.
Tate was able to finish the game. Taylor played only a handful of plays after getting hurt. The Wildcats were off last week.
Freshman quarterback Grant Gunnell will make his first career start with Tate out, UA coach Kevin Sumlin told ESPN. Gunnell completed 9 of 11 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns in relief against NAU on Sept. 7.
Freshman QB Grant Gunnell warming up for his first start as an Arizona Wildcat with Khalil Tate by his side. pic.twitter.com/l9EahhvSLE
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) September 29, 2019
Junior Gary Brightwell likely will start and carry a heavy workload in place of Taylor. Brightwell carried 21 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns against Texas Tech. He'll have plenty of help, as running back is Arizona's deepest position.
This will be the second year in a row that Tate has missed the UCLA game. He sat out last season's matchup at the Rose Bowl because of an ankle injury.
Tate has thrown for 684 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He is Arizona's leading rusher with 238 yards, having topped 100 in two of the Wildcats' first three games. He wore sweats during early warmups and played catch with a team manager.
Taylor ranks third on the team with 208 rushing yards. He ran for 1,434 yards last season and was named a third-team All-American as an all-purpose player.
WildcatAuthority.com first reported the news of Tate and Taylor's injuries.
Additional observations from pregame warmups:
* The first run-through of 7-on-7 featured Gunnell at quarterback and Brightwell at tailback. The second QB was Rhett Rodriguez. The second tailback was Bam Smith.
* The first defensive unit looked similar to Texas Tech with Anthony Pandy as a third linebacker and Jace Whittaker covering the slot. Based on warmups, though, safety Tristan Cooper might be more involved tonight. He did not play vs. Tech.
* It appears that senior Matt Aragon again will be the punter. He kicked the ball well during early warmups.
* UCLA will be without receiver Theo Howard and safety Quentin Lake.
Be sure to visit Tucson.com during and after the game for additional updates. You can also follow me on Twitter at @MichaelJLev.
Photos: UCLA Bruins at Arizona Wildcats college football in Tucson
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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.
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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.
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Arizona running back Bam Smith cruises into the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Arizona freshman QB Grant Gunnell showed mental and physical toughness during his first career start.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
