Bragg Expected Back Despite Light Practice

Wide receiver Craig Bragg wore a red jersey No. 7 in practice with his blue UCLA shorts on Tuesday instead of his normal white No. 87, but that doesn’t mean he won’t play Saturday at Arizona State.

“I couldn’t have contact today and this is the jersey they put in my locker,” said Bragg, who has sat out the last three games because of a dislocated left shoulder that he suffered against Washington on Sept 18. “There’s no significance with the jersey number.”

Coach Karl Dorrell said Bragg was limited on Tuesday for precautionary measures but would be in the lineup against the Sun Devils.

“He wants to do more than what we want him to do,” Dorrell said about Bragg, third on the team with 12 receptions for 217 yards, including two touchdowns and 10 first downs. “We’ll let him do a little bit more [today] because it’s our heavy day with full pads.... He’s chomping and wants to get back in there but we’re trying to be real cautious with him.”

Getting Bragg back in the lineup should give the Bruins’ offense a boost, especially for quarterback Drew Olson.

“It was nice throwing him some routes,” Olson said about Bragg, who has 11 touchdowns of at least 40 yards in his career. “It’s going to be great having him out there going full go.”

Bragg, a fifth-year senior, is on pace to own nearly all of the school’s career receiving records by the end of the season. He needs 11 catches to give him 180 and pass Kevin Jordan for No. 1 on the all-time receptions list and 442 yards to pass Danny Farmer in receiving yards.

But the records don’t hold much value to Bragg this week.

“If it happens, it happens. I’m just happy to be able to finish out my senior year with my teammates,” Bragg said. “Everybody knows that I can play. It’s not something that I get my hopes up for.”

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Dorrell said junior cornerback Marcus Cassel, who was replaced in the second half by freshman Rodney Van against California after he was beat on a touchdown pass Saturday, would start against Arizona State.

“Things didn’t go the way I wanted them to go last week but I have to step up,” said Cassel, who has three pass deflections and two fumble recoveries this season.

“I was a little surprised when I was replaced last week but there’s not anything I can do about it but play better this week.”

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Running back Maurice Drew banged his left knee in practice Tuesday but is expected to practice today, according to Dorrell.... Defensive tackle C.J. Niusulu, who has been hampered with a swollen ankle, worked out with the team.... UCLA’s homecoming game against Stanford at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 30 will start at 12:30 p.m.