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WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Wildcat offensive tackle Brandon Phillips squares off against Oregon defensive lineman Devan Long in the first quarter of Saturday's game, just minutes before injuring his right knee.
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By Charles Renning
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tuesday September 16, 2003
Even more harmful than the last two home blow-out losses for the struggling Arizona football team could be the loss of senior offensive tackle Brandon Phillips.
Phillips injured his knee during the first quarter of the Wildcats' 48-10 loss to Oregon and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Phillips was considered the anchor of the Arizona offensive line, starting 12 of the last 15 games for the Wildcats. His expected absence could be seen almost immediately after he was taken out of the game Saturday night.
After the loss to Oregon, sophomore quarterback Nic Costa said it did make things a little more difficult with the fifth-year senior out of the lineup.
However, he also added that the team would have to regroup and someone would have to fill in.
Phillips was the senior Wildcat that many believed had the best chance of playing in the NFL following this season.
Head coach John Mackovic said he didn't think that the injury should keep him from pursuing a career in professional football.
"Even if his rehab comes a little slowly, there is still a chance (to play at the next level)," he said. "He's young enough that he should not count himself out."
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Up Next
Who: Arizona Wildcats vs. Purdue Boilermakers
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.
Where: Ross- Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
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The Wildcats plan to move right guard sophomore Kili Lefotu to Phillips old spot at right tackle and place freshman guard Keith Jackson in the right guard position.
This is the second Wildcat lineman to be lost for the season.
Freshman John Parada hurt his knee in training camp and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Sophomore Tanner Bell has also experienced some knee trouble in the early season and has yet to see the field. Bell is expected to begin some work this week.
Besides the Phillips injury, the Wildcats had no new injuries to report on Monday.
Mackovic said he expects sophomore linebacker Antoine Singfield, senior cornerback Gary Love and junior tight end Steve Fleming all to return to action this week, after being held out of action against Oregon.
