UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava (knee) practices as Bruins prep for No. 2 Indiana
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava, dressed in full uniform with long black socks, took his usual place Tuesday morning at the front of the pack for the team stretch.
With his helmet off, Iamaleava jogged on the artificial portion of the newly renovated Wasserman Football Center practice field. He showed no apparent effects from a knee injury suffered just three days ago.
The redshirt sophomore did not appear to have a brace or any additional support on his right knee.
Iamaleava went down after being sacked with 2:09 to play this past weekend against Maryland. He remained on the ground for a few minutes before being helped off the field gingerly by defensive lineman Siale Taupaki and a team staff member.
After spending the next Maryland drive in the medical tent, Iamaleava surprisingly re-emerged and took the field for the remaining 35 seconds and the game tied 17-17.
Iamaleava engineered a game-winning drive, completing passes for 14 and 19 yards to wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, before a 35-yard run by reserve running back Anthony Frias II put UCLA inside the Maryland 5-yard line.
Kicker Mateen Bhaghani, the Big Ten special teams player of the week, then booted a 23-yard field goal with two seconds left to extend the Bruins’ winning streak to three games.
In his weekly Zoom press conference, Bruins interim head coach Tim Skipper said Monday was “a major” day for any and all banged up players who may need additional treatment or an MRI.
UCLA played most of the second half without running backs Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas, too.
“So that’s what we’re doing right now, we’re in that process,” Skipper said.
“Saw everybody (Sunday) with the meeting, guys were sore, which understandable. But we’ll have more of an update after we see the guys later on (Monday) evening.”
The 30-minute media viewing window Tuesday, which routinely only includes individual drills, showed all three players going through full participation.
The “juice period” — the highly energetic portion of the early periods — was the only time Iamaleava stood off to the side as Thomas, Woods and rest of the team lined up and ran through the stepover bags.
During the high-speed running exercise, Iamaleava ran at half speed as his teammates ran more of a sprint. He then took part in all throwing repetitions with the rest of the quarterbacks.
Iamaleava’s mobility has been a big part of his high-usage this season. He has team highs of 360 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground through seven games.
