COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Donahue Thinks Stokes Won’t Play

Could J.J. Stokes play Saturday at Arizona?

Probably, said Gerald Finerman, UCLA’s team physician.

Will Stokes play? Probably not.

Finerman, who has been treating Stokes for a bruised thigh muscle since the first game of the season, said that he could be available for limited duty, similar to the situation four weeks ago against Washington State..

“Looking back, it was probably a mistake to play him against Washington State,” Coach Terry Donahue said. “He played, and then we didn’t have him for four weeks. I’d rather give him another week and have three games at 100% than have him limp through the last four games of the season.”

Stokes played at what he termed 80% effectiveness against Washington State and caught one pass for 13 yards. His leg stiffened at halftime and he has not played since.

Two days later, both Donahue and Stokes said he would not play again until he was 100% healed.

Since then, he has gone through twice-daily rehabilitation with the Bruin medical staff. Last week he began jogging, and on Tuesday of this week he ran patterns with the offense for the first time since September.

He worked harder Wednesday, including jogging through wind sprints with the team and felt no adverse effects on Thursday.

Donahue said that Stokes’ condition would be reviewed today for a decision on whether to take him to Tucson and, if so, whether he will play.

“I just don’t think he’s going to play,” Donahue said.

*

Donahue said that Wayne Cook will start at quarterback. “But I won’t hesitate to make a move if things are not going well or Wayne isn’t playing well,” Donahue said. A move would involve bringing in sophomore Ryan Fien.

The kicking situation is not yet resolved. Bjorn Merten, who missed last week from 32 yards after kicking two shorter field goals, is four for his last 11 attempts. Greg Andrasak is his competition, and Donahue said that a decision would not be made until the two warm up in Tucson.