UCLA’s defensive secondary lost a key piece on Tuesday, but gained one back as well.
Coach Jim Mora announced Tuesday morning that senior and starting cornerback Fabian Moreau will miss the rest of the season because of a lisfranc injury, and he also said that redshirt junior cornerback Ishmael Adams has been reinstated to the team after serving nearly a monthlong suspension.
In late August, Adams was arrested on campus for allegedly robbing an Uber driver in Westwood. The next day, Mora announced that Adams would be suspended indefinitely, and that he’d wait for the legal process to play out before making any further announcements.
On Monday the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said Adams would not be facing felony charges for the incident. That announcement was enough to convince Mora that Adams’ suspension from the team could be lifted.
“We made that decision (to reinstate Adams) when we found out what the DA was doing,” Mora said. “So we stay consistent with that and we feel confident about that decision.”
Mora added that Adams has been contrite ever since his arrest, reaching out to players, coaches and staff members to personally apologize.
“He’s accepted responsibility (and) he’s accepted the consequences,” Mora said. “He’s apologized profusely to his team, his teammates and this staff, and come back with a great attitude.”
Mora didn’t say whether Adams would return to his former role as UCLA’s starting slot cornerback, but he could likely see a high amount of playing time as early as this Saturday against No. 16 Arizona (3-0). With Moreau out for the rest of the season, No. 9 UCLA (3-0) will need other cornerbacks to step up. Adams seems like a prime candidate, considering his status as a First-Team All-Pac-12 player last year.
“I think (Adams is) ready to play,” Mora said. “I don’t know if he’s ready to play a whole game, but he won’t have to. … He’s taken care of his body and he’ll do all he can to be ready to go.”
Mora said he will evaluate Adams as the practice week progresses. In the meantime, he said a few words about Moreau, who is undergoing surgery on Tuesday.
“It’s a huge blow, huge blow (to lose Moreau),” Mora said. “He’s the biggest starting corner and a great player in my opinion and an NFL corner without a doubt.”
Mora said he’s seeking a medical redshirt for Moreau, who started the first two games of this season before injuring his foot in the first quarter of Saturday’s game vs. BYU.
Compiled by Matthew Joye, Bruin Sports senior staff.