Cal football practice report: LT Aaron Cochran out two weeks, questionable for Hawaii

The biggest news that came out of Tuesday’s fall practice was the injury to Cal left tackle Aaron Cochran. Cochran sprained his knee and was on crutches on Tuesday, and he’ll be out at least two weeks of practice. His status for the Hawaii game is in doubt, although you’d have to imagine with an extra two and a half weeks of rest he’d be ready for Cal’s American debut against San Diego State.

If Cochran isn’t ready to go for Cal, the Bears will have to severely test their offensive tackle backups. On the fall depth chart, Vincent Johnson is listed as the backup left tackle, but there is also the possibility of backup right tackle Kamryn Bennett. But Sonny Dykes mentioned Patrick Mekari as his current backup left tackle. More from Connor Letourneau.

“That’s why we had Mekari there, in case something like this happened,” Dykes said. “We felt like he was ready to play, like he was probably the sixth best O-lineman.”

Mekari took the first team reps in practice. Expect him to be the starter down under if Cochran can’t go.

Here are some quick notes from an abbreviated fall practice on Tuesday.

• Traveon Beck is making moves. Darius Allensworth has locked down his side of the field as a starting cornerback, but Beck had perhaps the best practice out of any defensive back with multiple pass breakups.

• Jordan Veasy continues to shine as a potential player at inside wide receiver. Veasy shows an ability to get to footballs in traffic and make plays on the inside. Melquise Stovall has gotten all the early buzz but keep your eyes out on Veasy too.
• Cal has another big boy competing for fullback. Kyle Wells and Malik McMorris have been battling up to this point, but now defensive end Kennedy Emesibe has joined the fray.
• Fun little note on the work ethic of Demetris Robertson via Ryan Gorcey.

As a side note to Robertson, the five-star freshman receiver -- who has been the last man on the field nearly every day of fall camp -- was told that he was only the third-to-last today, he made a u-turn at the north tunnel, and went back out to work more.

• Some player highlights: Patrick Worstell hauled in a 35-yard grab from Davis Webb. Ray Davison got an interception off of Webb in the end zone. Marloshawn Franklin gave Robertson some problems at time in one-on-ones and Fabiano Hale got 25 rushing yards on five carries.
• Here’s a good feature on defensive coordinator Art Kaufman from Connor Letourneau.

Press conference videos:

Sonny Dykes

Cornerbacks coach John Lovett

Darius Allensworth and Traveon Beck