SF Chronicle: CAL NOTEBOOK

Bears' left tackle is lost for the season

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Starting left tackle Andrew Cameron is out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.  Cameron injured the knee early in Saturday's 28-0 win over Arizona. He will be replaced by junior Scott Smith, who played most of the game against Arizona and had started the two previous games while Cameron was out with a concussion.  Cameron was one of four returning starters on the offensive line. He was, in coach Jeff Tedford's words, "a mainstay" on the unit and considered one of the strengths of this year's team.  "He started a lot of games for us and he's been a very solid contributor," Tedford said.  Cameron injured the knee when he was blocking a pass rusher and "locked his leg or planted it wrong," Tedford said.  Team doctors want the swelling to go down before scheduling any surgery. Tedford said he was optimistic that Cameron, a junior, would be back next year.  Smith, a converted center, will be the only starter not weighing in at 300 or more pounds. He said he currently weighs 278, is eating to gain more weight and hopes to reach his "ideal" playing weight of 285 to 290 pounds. "Scott is a tough, hard working guy, very accountable," Tedford said.

Jonathan Murphy will probably back up Smith, although Tedford said the depth chart hadn't been settled yet.  Room to throw: Quarterback Joe Ayoob should be getting a little more space to work on his deep throws.  After Ayoob missed several open receivers downfield in Saturday's game, Tedford speculated that he may not be getting enough deep work at practice because the offense and defense share the field -- with Ayoob rarely having more than 40 yards to work with.  "We just have to address our practice schedule a little bit," Tedford said, noting the offense could have more of the field to work on the long passing game while the defense was crowded at one end working on goal-line situations.  "Or they can stay after practice," Tedford said.  Briefly: The game Oct. 15 game against Oregon State will be televised regionally by ABC, with kickoff now set for 12:30 p.m. ... Cornerback Daymeion Hughes, who had two interceptions and five tackles in the Arizona win, was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week.