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Anyanwu has Crohn’s disease

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Pugmire is a Times staff writer.

UCLA special teams player and backup defensive end Chinonso Anyanwu, who has had stomach problems this month, has been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, Coach Rick Neuheisel said Wednesday.

Anyanwu, a junior from Crenshaw High who has contributed six tackles and a sack, hasn’t played in UCLA’s last two games, and he was scheduled to undergo more tests Wednesday to establish more information.

The digestive system disease can have mild or severe effects, including cramping, diarrhea, fatigue, pain and weight loss. Anyanwu told the Daily News that he had lost 20 pounds but has gained some weight back.

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Neuheisel said it was too early to know when, or if, Anyanwu, 21, can resume playing.

Too much rest?

The Bruins have practiced through two open-date weeks before this current one, and they have a 59-0 loss for the ages at Brigham Young University and a 34-6 home loss to Oregon State to show for it.

“Not too good,” Neuheisel said.

The first-year coach didn’t institute significant changes to Wednesday’s session as the Bruins (4-6) prepare for their Nov. 28 game at Arizona State, except to let his scout teams battle each other at the close of what he called a “spirited” practice.

Pacoima’s Milton Knox, a freshman from Birmingham High, ran well, but the offense lost a fumbled snap at the one-yard line, thrilling defensive starters watching from the sidelines.

“Hopefully, we understand the urgency to compete and give ourselves the best possible chance to win,” Neuheisel said. “Our kids are feeling good, and they’re all excited to play. We hope that carries on through Tempe, and down the road.”

Injury corner

Defensive end Korey Bosworth re-aggravated a back bruise in practice, leaving to have it iced. He’s scheduled to undergo another treatment this morning.

“I’ll be fine, it was just as matter of, ‘Let’s not chance it,’ ” he said.

Also, defensive tackle Chase Moline (back epidural) returned to the practice field without contact, but defensive tackle Brian Price (sore hamstring) and linebacker Sean Westgate (hip flexor) remained sidelined. Tight end Cory Harkey was out sick (sore throat).

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Change remains

It seems that every week brings a new front five for the UCLA offense and, this week, Scott Glicksberg is the latest reshuffled player.

Glicksberg bounced from starter to reserve to being suspended a week for violating athletic department rules. Now he has a shot at returning to the starting lineup after replacing an injured Darius Savage early in last week’s game at Washington.

“It’s been up and down,” he said, “playing next to somebody new all the time.”

The fifth-year senior said it helps that the players trust offensive line coach Bob Palcic, who gave them a simple instruction in training camp: Whoever plays hardest in practice during the week gets to start on Saturday.

“Coach Palcic is just trying to find the best combination of five that he can,” Glicksberg said. “Nobody feels like it’s anything personal or anything where he’s not giving people a fair chance.”

With an open date on their schedule this weekend, Neuheisel said the team will once again reevaluate the line situation heading into Tempe.

Times staff writer David Wharton contributed to this report.

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lance.pugmire@latimes.com

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