London Is Limited by Persistent Ankle Pain

UCLA senior linebacker Justin London can’t seem to stay healthy. After being hampered by a high right ankle sprain throughout last season, London is hurting again.

“It’s just one of those things with this ankle,” said London, third on the team with 36 tackles, including five for losses. “I don’t even know what else to say about it. I’m pretty much sick of dealing with it and doing whatever I can just to play.”

London began the season strong with five tackles and a pass deflection in a victory over San Diego State. He played well against Rice and had nine tackles against Oklahoma.

By the end of UCLA’s sixth game, an overtime win at Washington State, London’s right ankle problem had flared up.

“It’s different than last year because I was barely hanging on then,” said London, who had arthroscopic surgery on the ankle during the off-season. “There was a lot of stuff going on with my ankle that’s not the case this year. But I’m still limited.”

Freshman John Hale started in London’s position in UCLA’s win over Oregon State last week. London, who played sparingly against the Beavers, said he would be ready for Stanford on Saturday.

“All I can do is rehab and then tape it up and go,” London said. “Rest is something that always helps, but you can’t do that at this time of the season. I’ve been through this before -- I just have to grit it out.”

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In leading Stanford to three consecutive victories, senior quarterback Trent Edwards has thrown eight touchdown passes with no interceptions. UCLA defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said Edwards is playing the best football of his college career.

“He’s such a savvy quarterback,” Kerr said about Edwards, who has led Stanford in passing and rushing the last three games. “He’s a veteran player who has been around. He has a very good arm, and he’s making good decisions with the football. He’s been very efficient with his passing.”

Edwards, who has a streak of 86 consecutive passes without one being intercepted, completed 24 of 46 passes for 224 yards against UCLA last year. But his three interceptions hurt the Cardinal in a 21-0 Bruin victory.

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Center Mike McCloskey, who suffered a minor shoulder injury against Oregon State, participated in some team drills Thursday and might play this week. The last time an undefeated UCLA team played at Stanford, the Bruins fell behind, 28-7, at halftime and lost, 38-28, in 2001.