COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Abdul-Jabbar May Sit Out With Fien

Tailback Karim Abdul-Jabbar, suffering from a deep bruise in the lower back, is doubtful for Saturday’s Pacific 10 opener against the University of Oregon at the Rose Bowl, Coach Terry Donahue said.

Abdul-Jabbar, who watched Monday’s practice, is more hopeful.

Quarterback Ryan Fien, suffering from his second concussion and second gash in the chin in two games, along with a slightly separated left shoulder, has already been ruled out of Saturday’s game and may be sidelined another as well. But Abdul-Jabbar was walking at a much brisker pace Monday than he had been on Saturday, when he was knocked out of the game in the third quarter after taking a helmet in the back.

“I can take the pain,” he said. “It feels a lot better. It’s only when I do something like trying to open a door that I feel a jolt. I should know by Wednesday whether I can play.”

Tests revealed no broken bones or kidney or nerve damage in Abdul-Jabbar’s back.

If Abdul-Jabbar can’t play, James Milliner, who rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown against BYU, will start. His backup will be either junior Thaddeus Massey or freshman Ryan Roques.

The major concern in Fien’s case is that this is his second concussion in eight days.

“Once you get one after another, [the doctors] get really concerned,” Donahue said. “That’s why I think Ryan will have a real sales job to get back within a week. If the concussion had occurred two weeks down the road instead of the next week, I think it might have been different.”

The separation in Fien’s non-throwing shoulder is not expected to be a factor in his return.

Freshman Cade McNown will start in Fien’s place.

Leading receiver Kevin Jordan and right guard Matt Soenksen, both suffering from twisted necks, are listed as questionable, but both are expected to play.

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The Bruins’ game against Washington State in Pullman on Sept. 23 has been selected by ABC for a regional telecast. Game time has been changed to 12:30 p.m.