UCLA Football to Play Purdue Without Key Offensive and Defensive Starters

The UCLA football team will be without two part-time starters, wide receiver Mikey Matthews and safety Tao Johnson, for their Big Ten opener against Purdue on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

Both Matthews and Johnson had started one game earlier in the season. Their absence was noted on the first Big Ten availability report of the season. Also listed as out for the Bruins are reserve offensive tackle Mack Indestad, reserve wide receiver Jonah Smith, backup center Sam Yoon, and reserve defensive backs Joshua Dixon and Jamier Johnson.

Tight end Josh Phifer is listed as doubtful, while wide receiver Aidan Mizell, linebacker Ryan McCulloch, and defensive back Jhase McMillan are questionable.

Matthews, who has accumulated four catches for 88 yards this season, reportedly suffered an apparent left leg injury last weekend against San Diego State. Mizell was also injured in his season debut against the Aztecs.

Johnson sustained an injury in the season opener against Cal. His absence led to backup Ta’Shawn James, who recorded two interceptions against San Diego State and subsequently moved into the starting lineup. Indestad was injured against San Diego State, and Yoon has been sidelined for some time with a foot injury.

For Purdue, defensive backs Mister Clark and Raderrion Daniels, along with tight end Kylan Fox, will also miss the game. Clark had recorded five tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup in the Boilermakers' season-opening win against Indiana State before missing their double-overtime loss to Wake Forest last week.

This availability report is the first of four that will be issued weekly during Big Ten play, a requirement under new conference guidelines. Teams are mandated to submit reports three days, two days, and one day prior to each Big Ten game, followed by a final submission two hours before kickoff. The initial three reports categorize players as probable, questionable, doubtful, out, or out for the first half. Gameday reports require designations of game-time decision, out, or out for the first half. Players not listed on these reports are considered available.