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Kevin Prince’s knee is still bothering him

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UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince sat out the final 20 minutes of practice Wednesday, saying his right knee “started bugging me.”

Prince injured his knee against Texas on Sept. 25 and missed the Washington State game the following week. He played against California on Saturday but said he was “not at 100%.”

“It’s the same deal, just swollen a little bit and a little stiff,” Prince said. “The trainers said that was enough.”

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Richard Brehaut, who started against Washington State, worked at quarterback when Prince sat out.

As for his availability for Thursday’s practice, Prince said, “We’ll continue to get treatments and see how it is then.”

Prince has not appeared as quick since the Texas game and he has a noticeable limp.

“Running right now is tough,” Prince said. “I can’t fully extend the leg. The explosiveness, making cuts, trying to accelerate, isn’t quite there right now.

“I’m not concerned about it. It’s good we have a bye this week so I can get extra rest and try to get back to full health.”

The Bruins’ next game is Oct. 21 at Oregon.

Safeties first

Safeties Rahim Moore and Tony Dye had their workload increased. Both were getting time at cornerback during practice Wednesday.

The Bruins are down to three healthy cornerbacks after Sheldon Price (sprained knee) and Anthony Jefferson ( broken foot) were injured against California. Andrew Abbott and Courtney Viney worked with the first team, with Aaron Hester subbing for both.

“The coaches said they wanted to take a look at us there,” said Dye, the Bruins’ starting strong safety. “It’s definitely for emergency purposes.”

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Dye and Moore both played cornerback in high school.

“It’s really nothing new,” Moore said. “I’ve done man-to-man coverage. I’ve covered guys. You’ve just got to know where your help is over the top.”

Dye spent time as a nickel back as a freshman, “so it’s not a big step for me.” Still, he said, “It’s been many moons since I was a full-time corner. I think it was 1966.”

Though Price has not been ruled out for the Oregon game, Jefferson is done for the season.

The Bruins have lost five cornerbacks since spring practice. Brandon Sermons broke his leg in spring practice. Shaquille Richardson was arrested for theft on campus in June and went to Arizona after being released from his scholarship. Marlon Pollard transferred to Eastern Michigan in August.

Quick hits

Defensive end Keenan Graham sat out practice because of a hip flexor injury. He had an MRI Wednesday that Coach Rick Neuheisel said was precautionary. 
 Defensive end Datone Jones had a CT scan on his broken right foot that “showed that it is healing,” Neuheisel said. But Jones will be unable to begin physical activity for another four weeks.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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