UCLA center Jake Brendel misses practice, but should play against Brigham Young, Jim Mora says

UCLA center Jake Brendel left the field a half-hour into practice Tuesday to get treatment on his injured foot.

Brendel, a fifth-year senior, is the lynchpin on the offensive line. He played only one half against UNLV on Saturday, but Coach Jim Mora said he would play against Brigham Young on Saturday.

“He could have played in the second half; we just pulled him,” Mora said. “That was kind of the plan going in.”

Brendel injured his foot when it was stepped on during practice last week. Mora said his foot was stepped on again in the first half against UNLV. Brendel has started 41 of 42 games since 2012.

While Brendel was out on Saturday, Alex Redmond moved from guard to center, and Caleb Benenoch moved from tackle to guard. Kolton Miller came in at tackle.

Mora said that Brendel’s experience will make up for any practice time he misses.

“He needs some. Everybody needs some,” Mora said. “But Jake is so smart and he has been doing it for so long, that he is different from a guy who hadn’t played much. He will get more work as the week goes on, and he’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”