Bruins lose WR Lucien to head injury as dog days of camp continue
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- UCLA wide receiver Devin Lucien was carted off the field and taken to the hospital in an ambulance on Tuesday after suffering what was described as a head injury.
The severity of Lucien's injury was not immediately known, but team doctor Dr. John DiFiori was with the receiver on the way to the hospital.
"As always, we're going to be overly cautious with anything that has to do with the head neck or spine, that's not a toughness issue," head coach Jim Mora said. "I think anytime you see something like that happen and you see an ambulance come on to the field of play, it's tough. Especially for the younger guys, that's their friend."
Lucien went up for a catch and his head hit the ground during the Bruins' 10th practice of fall training camp. He was attended to by the UCLA medical staff for several minutes before emergency personnel arrived on the scene. Lucien's neck was stabilized before he was taken to the hospital, as the rest of the team practiced two-minute drills.
"I believe it was when he was making one of his more spectacular -- those typical Devin Lucien catches that we've kind of grown accustomed to seeing," Mora said. "It kind of shook him up a little so we'll find out tomorrow the extent of it.
"I'm really not sure what play it was but he's been practicing hard. He's put together a few really good practices so we're just going to hope for the best."
Lucien is expected to be one of quarterback Brett Hundley's top targets this season and one of the Bruins' biggest deep threats. But Lucien has been known to sacrifice his entire body on some flashy and dynamic plays, as he did Tuesday.
UCLA officials are expected to release information as it comes in.
The injury toll has been mounting in the desert, as is to be expected at this point in camp. The Bruins were without a handful of offensive linemen, forcing left tackle Malcolm Bunche to play center for a few plays.
"Obviously, our main concern is Devin," Mora said. "It's the customary bumps and bruises that you get 10 days into training camp."
The Bruins worked on situational drills Tuesday, such as two-minute drills, mayday field goals and Hail Marys. Mora is happy with the intensity, despite the fact that many were trying to push through the malaise of practice No. 10. Lucien's injury was not a distraction, but after he went down, many - Mora included - had a difficult time focusing.
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"We're getting over a wall," linebacker Deon Hollins said. "It's getting pretty chippy. Guys are pretty much running on fumes and we just have to go past it."
