Tight end Paulsen suffers foot injury

Any benefits that might come from UCLA’s first scrimmage Saturday could be offset by the loss of senior tight end Logan Paulsen.

Paulsen hobbled off the field with an injured right foot early in the scrimmage. Last year Paulsen suffered a broken right foot in the first game and missed the rest of the season.

X-rays taken Saturday were inconclusive, UCLA officials said. Paulsen, who was using crutches and wearing a protective boot on his foot, said, “Two doctors looked at the X-ray and they said there was shading there that could mean a fracture.”

More tests will be scheduled if he continues to experience pain. “It’s scary,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said. “Hopefully we’ll get some good news.”

The 6-foot-5, 268-pound Paulsen, considered to have NFL potential, received a medical redshirt for the 2008 season and will be a fifth-year senior in the fall.

“Logan’s injury put a damper on everything,” offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. “He is such a leader for us.”

The scrimmage was dominated by the defense. The offense managed one touchdown, a five-yard run by tailback Johnathan Franklin, who had 45 yards in nine carries. That was the only time the offense managed to get within 30 yards of the end zone.

Quarterbacks Kevin Prince and Richard Brehaut came away with different assessments of their performances.

“I felt I was in control of the offense, but I didn’t think the offense was motivated,” said Prince, who completed eight of 14 passes for 91 yards. “I didn’t feel like we had enthusiasm after the first drive. That’s on me to get the offense motivated.”

Brehaut, who enrolled early to participate in spring practice, was happier with how he played.

“The first drive, we went down and scored,” said Brehaut, who was six for 13 for 61 yards. “That’s what we’re here to do. I messed up a few calls, but I felt I played good. My huddle presence was nice and for the most part I made good reads.”

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The thick blue line

The defensive front appeared well ahead of the offensive line. The defense had six sacks, two by Datone Jones, and forced two fumbles. The unit was strongest in the middle, with tackles Brian Price and Jerzy Siewierski playing well. Price had a sack, Siewierski a tipped pass.

Siewierski, who is set to replace Brigham Harwell, is “the most athletic defensive lineman we have,” defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough said.

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Quick hits

Defensive end Damien Holmes suffered a strained right shoulder during practice Thursday and will likely miss the remainder of spring practice. . . . Receiver Chris Forcier, who missed the last three practices, returned Saturday, but will undergo tests for mononucleosis.

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chris.foster@latimes.com