Olson won’t play, even as backup

Quarterback Ben Olson on Thursday was officially ruled out of Saturday’s game against Washington, even as a backup.

“When [doctors] cleared him yesterday, he had an outside chance of playing in a reserve role,” Coach Karl Dorrell said Thursday. “Now they will exert him tomorrow and then he has to wait 24 hours after that.”

Olson has suffered from lingering headaches and nausea after being leveled a handful of times in the Bruins’ 44-6 loss to Utah last Saturday, though it has yet to be termed a concussion.

That leaves the offense under the guidance of Patrick Cowan, who missed the last month with a partially torn hamstring. Dorrell said he was confident that Cowan’s injury was healed enough to allow him to be mobile.

Cowan, who was effective as a runner during his eight starts last season, was injured during practice last month while scrambling up field.

“He’s going to play and he knows he can play well and he feels good,” Dorrell said. “The trainers gave him clearance. He still does treatment and things like that. He’s had a good week of practice and we’re hoping that’s going to transfer to the game.”

UCLA players are, by policy, not available for comment on Thursdays.

Dorrell was not ready to say whether Olson would automatically reclaim his starting spot once healthy no matter how Cowan plays.

“I’d like to focus on Washington right now, if I can, and I’ll get to that when the time comes,” Dorrell said.

Tailback Chris Markey has 169 yards rushing through three games -- that’s 39 less than he had against Rice in the second game last season.

“I haven’t been producing as I should,” said Markey, who has shared duties with Kahlil Bell.

Markey, who missed spring practice with a stress fracture in his right foot, said that he is “100%. There is nothing affecting me.” Still, he gained only 35 yards in 10 carries against Utah last week in what he called “my worst game by far.”

A year ago, Markey had 1,107 yards rushing, averaging 4.9 yards a carry. He is averaging 3.3 yards a carry this season.

“I just have to play my game,” Markey said. “I haven’t been playing up to par.”

One issue that has been somewhat troublesome in the last month is finding the proper cleats. His cleats last season were said to have contributed to the stress fracture.

“It has been a lot of experimenting, but I have the shoe now and the insoles for my wide feet,” Markey said.

Washington players had to alter preparation to face the right-handed Cowan instead of the left-handed Olson. Huskies Coach Tyrone Willingham said it’s a significant adjustment, telling the Seattle Times, “that could in fact change how they view the game and where they position themselves.”

UCLA’s offense has been sinking fast since opening the season against a rebuilding Stanford team. The Bruins rank 54th nationally in total offense (411 yards per game) and are tied for 67th in scoring offense (26 points per game). UCLA had 624 total yards in a 45-17 victory over Stanford. . . . Wide receiver Marcus Everett (sprained ankle) was walking without crutches Thursday but is still unavailable to play Saturday.

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chris.foster@latimes.com

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Head to head

With starter Ben Olson unable to practice this week because of headaches and nausea, UCLA’s

hopes will again be in the hands of Patrick Cowan as the Bruins, coming off a stunning

loss to Utah, attempt to rebound against Washington on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. The Times compares the quarterbacks:

Tale of the tape

*--* QUARTERBACK HEIGHT WEIGHT YEAR AGE Ben Olson 6-4 231 Junior 24 Patrick Cowan 6-5 218 Junior 21 *--*

Record as UCLA starter

* Olson: 6-2.

* Cowan: 3-5 but beat USC

High school career

* Olson: ESPN national player of the year; PrepStar player of the year; first-team USA Today All-America; Parade All-America. Holds single-game records at Thousand Oaks High for passing yards (497) and touchdown passes (six), as well as single-season records for passing yards (2,989) and touchdowns (32).

* Cowan: Threw five touchdown passes his senior season as he began preparations to beat USC.

Post-high school

* Olson: Six months at Brigham Young, then a two-year Mormon mission before transferring to UCLA.

* Cowan: Two years in obscurity at UCLA before he beat USC.

Record in UCLA quarterback competitions

* Olson: 2-1, lost to Drew Olson in 2005; defeated Cowan the last two seasons.

* Cowan: 0-2 (see above), but beat USC.

College highlights

* Olson: A great beginner. Threw three touchdown passes and beat Utah, 31-10, in the 2006 opener. Threw five touchdown passes and beat Stanford, 42-17, in this season’s opener. Mixed performances followed the Utah game in 2006 and again this season after the Stanford victory. Still, the Bruins were 4-1 before he injured a knee last season and are 2-1 after the Utah defense used him as target practice.

* Cowan: Beat USC.

The rest

* Olson: Has prototypical NFL body and arm strength but hasn’t translated those skills into consistent success on the field. Needs breakthrough year to justify “expert” projections out of high school -- i.e., a left-handed John Elway.

* Cowan: Undefeated as starter against USC.

-- Chris Foster