Olson to practice, but Cowan to start

Ben Olson is back in action, but Patrick Cowan will be back in the starting lineup at quarterback Saturday against Oregon State, UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell said Monday.

Olson started the Bruins’ first five games but suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the first quarter of a 27-7 victory over Arizona on Oct. 7.

Cowan came on and energized a UCLA offense that had been struggling, completing 20 of 29 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against the Wildcats.

But since that victory, which improved UCLA’s record to 4-1, the Bruins have lost four straight with Cowan as the starter.

Olson received medical clearance Monday night and is expected to practice today for the first time since his injury. He said last week he was planning to be ready to play Saturday at the Rose Bowl, but Dorrell said Olson’s return is more likely to come against Arizona State in a game at Tempe on Nov. 18.

“His range of motion with his knee has gotten a lot better,” Dorrell said. “We’ll see how much he’ll be able to do this week.

“He has to have some time to practice. He hasn’t thrown anything full speed. He hasn’t handed off the ball full speed. He hasn’t dropped back full speed. He hasn’t avoided anybody.

“He’s a little bit, I think, out of shape football-wise and we have to get him going again.”

Olson has completed 79 of 124 passes for 822 yards and five touchdowns with five interceptions.

Cowan has completed 92 of 172 passes for 1,115 yards and five touchdowns with six interceptions. In the Bruins’ last game, against California, he completed 22 of 40 passes for 329 yards, all career highs.

*

Chris Markey isn’t known for his blazing speed, but the junior running back proved fast enough to break off a 70-yard touchdown run against Cal.

“I’ve always had it,” Markey said. But, he noted, “when I get into the open field, sometimes I tense up and just try to run hard.”

That didn’t happen against the Bears. On fourth and one early in the fourth quarter, Markey broke through the line and sprinted away from a blitzing Cal defense. It was Markey’s longest run since high school.

“On that run, I was just relaxed and ran,” said Markey, who ran for 136 yards against Cal and is averaging 86.6 yards rushing a game.

Markey is 201 yards shy of 1,000 for the season with at least three games remaining. The Bruins, losers of four consecutive games, are going to need Markey’s best game Saturday when they play host to Oregon State at the Rose Bowl.

The Beavers, winners of four straight including an Oct. 28 upset of USC, have the third-best defense against the run in the Pacific 10 Conference. Oregon State has not allowed an opposing team to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Sept. 30.

“They have to be the most confident team in the world right now after beating SC,” Markey said.

*

Starting outside linebacker Aaron Whittington and backup running back Kahlil Bell are still struggling to come back from sprained ankles suffered against Notre Dame on Oct. 21.

Whittington started against Cal but aggravated his injury and is back to wearing a protective boot this week. Bell, who has not played since the Notre Dame game, still has trouble making cuts. Both players are doubtful for Oregon State.

Reserve linebacker Korey Bosworth, who suffered a concussion and neck injury against Cal, has not had any post-concussion symptoms but his status is uncertain for Saturday’s game, Dorrell said.

*

UCLA will host its 10th annual Veterans and Armed Forces Appreciation Day at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. Veterans and active military personnel can receive one free general admission ticket or purchase two-for-one reserved tickets by presenting valid identification or being in uniform at the time of ticket purchase or pick-up. Information: 310-UCLA-WIN.

lonnie.white@latimes.com