UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince tests injured arm

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince tested his throwing arm, tossing passes in drills Wednesday during practice.

“It was a step forward,” Prince said.

It was the first time Prince had thrown passes in drills since suffering an AC sprain and mild separation in his right shoulder.

“It’s not perfect,” Prince said, “but it’s better.” Prince injured the shoulder in the USC-UCLA game on Nov. 28.

Whether he can play against Temple in the EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 29 remains to be seen. Prince said, “I imagine, by the end of this week, I’ll know for sure. If it keeps improving and I’m able to do more and more, I’ll be fine. If it gets worse, or doesn’t get better, by the end of this week, I might not play.”

The improvement came after trainers began to treat the trapezius muscle near his neck. It “loosened me up,” Prince said.

“They said I have been overcompensating, which was making my shoulder hurt more,” Prince said. “It made a difference.”

Prince threw in the training room Tuesday. He had his shoulder taped down and was able to take a handful of repetitions during drills Wednesday.

“Kevin wanted to give it try, and I thought it was a pretty good first day,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said Wednesday. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. If it starts to get better by the weekend, he’ll be ready to roll.”

Wall Day II

It was the UCLA coaches who tried to go over the wall before Wednesday’s practice, only to find they were less over the wall and more over the hill.

“We feigned going over the wall today, but when we got there, we found out we could make it,” Neuheisel said, smiling.

It was a lighthearted answer to the players bolting from practice Tuesday, a continuing UCLA tradition no matter how hard Neuheisel has tried to quash it.

Neuheisel said he may add a practice Sunday but will wait “to see if I get what I want the next two days.”

The lost day did push back Temple preparation one day. Neuheisel said they would now begin installing the game plan Friday.

Bruins coaches have used practices to look at younger players so far this week.

Carter is eligible

Reggie Carter returned to practice after completing the necessary work for one class, which will make him eligible for the bowl game.

Carter has been eagerly anticipating the game.

“I’m excited to go to D.C.,” Carter said. “The only time I get to travel is for football. I get to see the East Coast, I get to see the White House, maybe I’ll even get to shake hands with [President] Obama. That’s probably pushing it, but I’ve got to try.”

Quick hits

Long snapper Christian Yount, who has been out with mononucleosis, suited up for practice but did not participate in drills. Kevin McDermott has handled the long snapping chores this week. . . . Gardena Serra High’s Paul Richardson, a receiver, has committed to play at UCLA. . . . Bruins players and coaches were scheduled to be in the audience for “The Jay Leno Show” on Wednesday.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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