Bruins’ Cowan held out of practice after ‘tweaking’ knee

An unwelcome flashback to last season visited UCLA’s spring practice, as No. 1 quarterback Patrick Cowan sat out Tuesday’s practice after “tweaking” his knee near the end of Monday’s workout.

Both Cowan and Coach Rick Neuheisel downplayed the injury and team officials said an MRI came back negative. Still, it was a reminder how fragile the Bruins were at quarterback last season, when they lost Cowan and Ben Olson to injuries for extended periods of time.

Cowan suited up and Neuheisel was confident he would return Thursday, when the Bruins practice again.

“All I know is there was very little swelling in the morning, so hopefully it is going to be inconsequential,” Neuheisel said. “He was out there at practice and he could have gone, but we wanted to give him today. We’ll see how he is on Thursday.”

Cowan’s 2007 season read like a busy night in an hospital emergency room – a torn hamstring, an injured right knee, a concussion, a collapsed lung, an injured left knee. He started five games, but underwent off-season arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February.

Cowan was tabbed as the Bruins’ starting quarterback early in spring practice, though Neuheisel has yet to make an official announcement. But Cowan has been the only quarterback to work exclusively with the first-team offense.

“It’s fine,” Cowan said. “I know this is not like the other [knee injuries]. Coach decided to hold me out today.”

With Cowan out, Olson was given extensive time with the No. 1 offensive unit for the first time this spring. Kevin Craft, though, also received some reps with first team.

Both were erratic and Olson didn’t seem to improve his standing.

“He did some good things, but he is still inconsistent,” Neuheisel said. “I don’t know if I can say anybody has been consistent, but it was too inconsistent today for us to be effective.”

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Meanwhile, quarterback Osaar Rasshan received no time at quarterback during scrimmages. Neuheisel said he would not force Rasshan to change positions, saying, “My experience is putting people in places where they don’t want to be is a disaster.”

Rasshan worked out at wide receiver last August and was approached about moving to safety during the off-season. He has said repeatedly that he wants to remain at quarterback.

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Many Bruins fans are eagerly awaiting August to see what is considered a talented recruiting class. They may have to wait longer to see them in games.

Out of the 22 freshmen recruits, Neuheisel said, “We’ll see how they do and it wouldn’t be unheard of to have one or two or three freshmen in the two-deep.”

But most are ticketed to redshirt, including offensive linemen Jeff Baca and Connor Bradford.

“Freshmen usually are not strong enough and prepared to play in the trenches,” Neuheisel said.

The Bruins may end up using a freshman or two at tailback, in the secondary and at wide receiver, Neuheisel said.

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Cornerback Courtney Viney and free safety Glenn Love, who will be redshirt freshmen in the fall, are two who will get pushed by freshmen. Viney spent last season on the scout team, but Love spent the year recovering from hip surgery.

Love is beginning to make an impression on defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker despite suffering a broken left thumb early in spring practice. The 6-foot-4, 207-pound Love had a good effort in last Friday’s scrimmage, where he intercepted a pass and had a few solid hits.

“He has shown me something,” Walker said. “I’ve been pretty critical with him and Viney, because it is the first time they have really played. I think Glenn has shown us some pop.”

Incoming freshmen Anthony Dye, Aaron Hester, Rahim Moore and E.J. Woods are all expected to get a look in the secondary come August. Jonathan Franklin may be included in that group as well, provided he is not playing tailback.

“I know the guys coming in and it’s going to be competitive,” Love said. “But that helps me. It makes me want to play harder and pushes me. It will help me a lot, actually.”

Walker said cornerbacks Alterraun Verner and Michael Norris and safeties Aaron Ware and Bret Lockett have established themselves as starters for the moment. The second-team secondary won’t be hashed out until the summer.

“We need eight guys and the way spring is going, [Love and Viney] haven’t separated themselves,” Walker said. “When all the young guys get here, it’s going to be a fight to the finish.”

chris.foster@latimes.com