UCLA quarterback Ben Olson underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot.
The operation consisted of inserting a screw into Olson’s foot to help it heal from an injury he suffered in the Bruins’ second-to-last practice of the spring on April 24. According to an athletic department press release issued Tuesday evening, the surgery was successful.
“Everybody I’ve talked to said the screw is probably the way to go,” Olson said before the team’s scrimmage April 26. “I just want to do the thing that’s best for my body that will help me get back as fast as I can.”
The injury will likely sideline Olson for six to eight weeks. Olson expects to be ready for the team’s training camp in August. Olson’s injury is one factor in a very complicated situation for the Bruin quarterbacks.
Redshirt senior Pat Cowan had won the starting job in training camp, but tore his ACL during the same practice when Olson injured his foot. It was a non-contact practice and the players wore shorts.
“It was a weird day,” Olson said. “I don’t think anybody thought that was going to happen, but it just goes to show what life’s all about; you never know what’s going to happen and you just have to plow through the good times and the bad times.”
Cowan’s injury is much more serious than Olson’s though; it’s so bad that Cowan will need surgery that will prevent him from playing next season. Cowan’s UCLA career is likely over because he’s already used one year to redshirt and probably won’t receive a medical redshirt to return for a sixth season at UCLA.
Without Cowan the Bruins will likely turn to Olson as their starter for the 2008 season, although junior transfer Kevin Craft could compete for the job.
Twenty-five-year-old Olson opened the last two seasons as the Bruins’ starter, but suffered injuries in both of those seasons. He started just five games in both of those seasons, and has thrown just 12 touchdown passes in his UCLA career.
The Bruins have three quarterbacks behind Olson: Craft, redshirt freshman Chris Forcier and redshirt junior Osaar Rasshan.
“I’ve got to get back as fast as I can and rehab,” Olson said. “As far as whether I’m the starter or not, that’s not my call ““ never has been, never will be. All I can do is keep a positive attitude and keep working.”
SHEPPARD OUT: Reserve runningback Craig Sheppard had surgery last week to reconstruct the AC joint of his left shoulder.
The injury will keep Sheppard off the field for at least four months and possibly six. That timeframe will force Sheppard to miss training camp and could prevent him from playing in the Bruins’ September games against Tennessee, BYU, Arizona and Fresno State.