Bush to Have More Tests on Wrist Today

Running back Reggie Bush took part in limited drills Wednesday because of an injured left wrist and will have another test today to make sure the damage is not serious.

Bush jammed his wrist on Tuesday. X-rays were negative, but he will have a CT scan today.

“It’s just taking extra precautions,” said Bush, who is second in the nation in all-purpose yards. “I have a big role in this offense, so I just want to make sure everything is OK.”

Bush broke the same wrist in high school. He wore a brace after practice and said swelling had subsided.

Desmond Reed took snaps in Bush’s place, but Bush said he would play Saturday against Arizona.

*

Defensive end Frostee Rucker did not practice because of a groin strain suffered on the second play against Oregon State.

“I kept playing on it, which wasn’t good, but you have to in a game like that,” said Rucker, who also is nursing a torn toe ligament that might require surgery after the season.

Carroll said Lawrence Jackson would play in Rucker’s spot if Rucker could not play. Shaun Cody would play at the other end with Manuel Wright and Mike Patterson at tackle.

Though he has played the majority of his snaps at tackle, Cody was selected as one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive end.

*

Neither freshman receiver Dwayne Jarrett nor Carroll reacted angrily when informed of comments by Penn State Coach Joe Paterno who, during his weekly news conference Tuesday, made remarks that appeared to imply New Jersey native Jarrett was too much of an academic risk for the Nittany Lions to recruit.

Asked why the Penn State program had slipped, Paterno said, among other things, “There are a lot of ways to remedy different things and some of them I don’t want to do. I don’t think it is the way Penn State wants to do it.

“There is a great wideout in the country now playing for one of the best football teams in the country, if not the best football team in the country, [from] New Jersey, we never even looked at because of the academics and things like that.”

Top-ranked USC is the only top five team with a receiver from New Jersey.

Jarrett said Penn State offered him a scholarship midway through his senior year but he declined because the Nittany Lions rarely pass.

Said Carroll: “Joe Pa can say whatever he wants. He has been a dean of this game for so long. Whatever he says is OK with me.”

*

Carroll said safety Scott Ware (foot) was cleared to return to practice and would return in time for the Notre Dame game Nov. 27.... Ronald Nunn will play as the nickel back in place of injured Kevin Arbet, Carroll said.