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 considerable lower leg injury against Stanford in Week 4, de Laura missed Arizona’s 31-24 loss to No. 7 Washington recently. A source told ESPN that Arizona’s game at Washington State on Oct. 14 would be a more sensible target for de Laura to return.Wildcats tailback Michael Wiley missed the Washington game also with a lower leg injury and will also be a game-time decision Saturday night.Arizona is anticipated to begin redshirt

freshman Noah Fifita once again at quarterback. He played well against Washington, going 27-for-39 for 232 lawns with three touchdowns and one interception. At tailback, Jonah Coleman tasks to start if Wiley is unable to go.De Laura is among the most established quarterbacks in college football, as he has thrown for 8,438 backyards with 62 goal passes in his career. Those numbers span 2 seasons at Washington State and the previous two at Arizona. This year, he has actually finished 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 very first bowl bid because 2017. Arizona brought the momentum from a strong surface last year, which included an upset of No. 9 UCLA and a win over competing Arizona State to close the year at 5-7.