Source: Arizona QB de Laura unlikely to play

Pete Thamel, ESPNOct 7, 2023, 07:30 AM ET

Arizona star quarterback Jayden de Laura will be a game-time decision against No. 9 USC on Saturday night but is “unlikely” to play, a source told ESPN.

After suffering a significant lower leg injury against Stanford in Week 4, de Laura missed Arizona’s 31-24 loss to No. 7 Washington last week. A source told ESPN that Arizona’s game at Washington State on Oct. 14 would be a more realistic target for de Laura to return.

Wildcats tailback Michael Wiley missed the Washington game as well with a lower leg injury and will also be a game-time decision Saturday night.

Arizona is expected to start redshirt freshman Noah Fifita again at quarterback. He played well against Washington, going 27-for-39 for 232 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. At tailback, Jonah Coleman projects to start if Wiley is unable to go.

De Laura is one of the most established quarterbacks in college football, as he has thrown for 8,438 yards with 62 touchdown passes in his career. Those numbers span two seasons at Washington State and the past two at Arizona. This year, he has completed 69.6% of his passes with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.

Arizona is 3-2, with an overtime loss at Mississippi State and the hard-fought loss to Washington last week. They have wins over Northern Arizona, UTEP and Stanford and are halfway to the school’s first bowl bid since 2017.

Arizona carried the momentum from a strong finish last year, which included an upset of No. 9 UCLA and a win over rival Arizona State to close the year at 5-7.