Cowan is sidelined by concussion

If UCLA had played a game Saturday, Ben Olson would have started at quarterback because Patrick Cowan is sidelined indefinitely after suffering a concussion in the victory over USC.

“He still hasn’t been cleared,” Coach Karl Dorrell said about Cowan, who did not join his teammates in their first practice since upsetting the Trojans. “He’s doing MRIs and all that stuff to try and see what the issues are. But we did get one of the doctor’s comments that the MRI came back negative on one test. We’ll just see how his symptoms dissipate from here.”

Cowan’s post-concussion symptoms did not take hold until days after the game, according to Dorrell. But because UCLA does not play again until Dec. 27, when the Bruins face Florida State in the Emerald Bowl, Cowan has plenty of time to get back on the field.

Until then, Olson and redshirt freshman Osaar Rasshan will enjoy the extra work in practice.

“Ben had a good day today, and I thought Osaar did too,” Dorrell said after Saturday’s workout at Spaulding Field. “It was just a day of trying to get back into rhythm again.”

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Senior defensive end Justin Hickman and senior kicker Justin Medlock missed Saturday’s practice after being honored as first-team All-Americans by the Football Writers Assn. of America in Orlando, Fla., on Friday.... Dorrell said suspended running back Kahlil Bell, who did not play against USC for breaking team rules, will also miss the Emerald Bowl.... Redshirt freshman offensive tackle Aleksey Lanis did not practice because of a broken forearm but is expected to play against Florida State.... The Bruins do not practice again until Friday because of final exams.

lonnie.white@latimes.com