SF Chronicle; Tedford says Lynch 'will be ready to play'

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Marshawn Lynch had his left hand in a cast and did not practice Monday but should be able to play Saturday. However, coach Jeff Tedford was less certain about his status as Cal's starting tailback.  "We'll see how he comes through," Tedford said. Lynch injured his left little finger in the third quarter of Cal's 56-17 win at Washington on Saturday. Tedford described the injury, near the base of finger near the knuckle, as "dislocated, fractured."  He said Lynch will have the cast removed later in the week. Lynch then will be fitted with a splint.  "He'll be ready to play," Tedford said, adding "it was too premature'' to be specific about Lynch's role in Saturday's game against Illinois at Memorial Stadium.  At Washington, Lynch gained 46 yards on five carries and made another 25 on a shovel pass.  In the event Lynch doesn't start, Justin Forsett would be next in line, followed by Marcus O'Keith -- coming off a 103-yard game against Washington -- and Terrell Williams.  In addition to Lynch, three other players who started at Washington did not practice Monday.  Defensive end Tosh Lupoi sprained a knee and is doubtful for Illinois, Tedford said, noting Lupoi was cleared of any more serious damage by an MRI exam. Phillip Mbakogu is Lupoi's backup.  Linebacker Greg Van Hoesen sprained an ankle against the Huskies and is questionable for the Illini. He was replaced in the Washington game by Worrell Williams, who appears recovered from a high ankle sprain he incurred in training camp.  Center Marvin Philip was on crutches Monday, but Tedford said he should be fine by Saturday, describing his status as day-to-day.

"We've got to rest his ankle for a couple days," Tedford said.  Philip sprained his ankle last week in practice but still played in the Washington game.  Tedford said the team tries to deal with injuries with as little distraction as possible. "You just plug another guy in and keep rolling," he said.  Bishop for real: Even though he's played only two games for Cal, Desmond Bishop is already a "top-level middle linebacker" in the Pac-10, according to Tedford.  Bishop has led the Bears in tackling the first two games.  "He gets from sideline to sideline, tackles real well and does a nice job of understanding our defense," Tedford said.  Bishop is a transfer from City College of San Francisco, as are quarterback Joe Ayoob and wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins.  Tedford often has talked of the difficulty facing JC transfers in making the transition to the speed of the Division I-A game.  He said the CCSF players already saw that speed in their practices at a program that regularly sends players to prominent four-year schools.  "It's a notch above," Tedford said.  

Briefly: Receiver Robert Jordan, who had 11 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns against Washington, took Pac-10 and team honors as the offensive player of the week. ... Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and rover Donnie McCleskey were named the team's defensive players of the week.