The initial prognosis on the injury suffered by UCLA defensive lineman Datone Jones was fairly pessimistic, with word being his broken foot could keep him off the field until early October.
As it turns out, that early prognosis could’ve been overly optimistic.
Head coach Rick Neuheisel announced Wednesday evening that Jones will undergo a surgical procedure that would insert a screw into the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. The surgery and subsequent rehab would now keep him out until at least the third week of October, or perhaps even bleed into the month of November.
In other words, the junior could be lost for the season. Neuheisel, however, is not quite ready to concede losing one of his best lineman for the entire year.
“The surgery is usually a 10- to 12-week deal,” Neuheisel said. “You never know [if Jones will return this year]. We’ll have to wait and see. I want him to work hard and to get back.”
Fortunately for Jones, he has a redshirt available, which seems to be the path he’s on given the initial timeline for recovery.