Reports: UCLA QB Josh Rosen will likely miss rest of season
It looks like Josh Rosen’s sophomore season has prematurely come to an end.
According to Bruin Report Online and Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman, the UCLA quarterback is expected to miss the rest of the season because of the shoulder injury he suffered Oct. 8 at Arizona State.
Rosen hasn’t played since that ASU game, missing UCLA’s losses to Washington State and Utah. Bruins head coach Jim Mora indicated last week that Rosen has been dealing with a “nerve issue” in his throwing shoulder. Mora said once the nerve “starts firing again,” he thought Rosen would be fine.
Per Bruin Report Online, which characterized the injury as a “severe shoulder sprain,” UCLA hoped the team’s bye week would give Rosen enough time to return for the upcoming game against Colorado. However, that has not come to fruition and the program opted to shut him down for the season’s final four games instead.
Additionally, Feldman is reporting that Rosen will undergo an MRI later this week which will determine whether he needs surgery.
After injuring the shoulder vs. ASU, Rosen tried to test out the shoulder on the sideline and was shown on the television broadcast wincing in pain.
Two weeks later on Oct. 22 at Utah, Rosen was only able to throw “some short left-handed passes” during pregame warmups per the Los Angeles Times.
UCLA was a perceived favorite in the Pac-12 South but has gotten off to a disastrous 3-5 start heading into Saturday’s game at Colorado. With the team’s disappointing season, some at UCLA reportedly believe it’s in Rosen’s best interest to sit the rest of the season.
From Bruin Report Online:
Given that UCLA is 3-5 this season, there are opinions within the program that it wouldn’t be worth hurrying back Rosen to the playing field and risk escalating the injury.
There is a chance that Rosen could return, if the shoulder recovered fully and doctors determined Rosen’s career was clearly not at risk. But, according to sources, that is unlikely with four games remaining in the regular season.
Before the injury, Rosen had thrown for 1,915 yards, 10 interceptions and five interceptions. In 2015, Rosen threw for 3,670 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and was widely considered one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country and a potential top NFL draft pick.
With Rosen out, senior Mike Fafaul has started for the Bruins against Washington State and Utah. Overall this season, Fafaul, a former walk-on, has thrown for 779 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
For more UCLA news, visit BruinSportsReport.com.
More college football coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
