Ethan Garbers injury update: Exploring UCLA QB's availability for Week 6 showdown against Penn State

The UCLA Bruins are set to take on the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions in a Week 6 Big Ten matchup. The Bruins are without starting quarterback Ethan Garbers, who suffered an injury last week versus the No. 8 Oregon Ducks.

Garbers was limited in practice throughout the week and was deemed a game-time decision. In an effort to shake things up after UCLA's 1-3 start, Bruins coach DeShaun Foster announced Justyn Martin as the starter for Week 6.

This move is a surprise, given Foster's optimism throughout the week regarding Garbers' injury. Following the Oregon game last Saturday, Foster stated:

"Unless we hold him out, he's going to try to get out there and play."

The specifics of Garber's injury remained unspecified throughout the week. and the move to make Justyn Martin the starter was announced just before kick-off, per the Fox Sports broadcast.

Entering Week 6, Garbers has completed 57.3% of his passes for 808 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

The senior quarterback is in his fourth season in the UCLA system but has struggled mightily to start the year in the team's first season in the Big Ten.

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UCLA backup QB Justyn Martin impressing versus No. 6 Penn State

In the absence of Ethan Garbers, sophomore quarterback Justyn Martin is making the most of his opportunity versus Penn State. In the first half versus the Nittany Lions, Martin completed 11 of his 14 pass attempts for 116 yards without a turnover.

The Bruins face a 14-3 deficit at the end of the first half but are seeing new life in their passing offense, with Martin leading the way. Martin was a highly touted four-star recruit in the 2022 class, ranked as the No. 17 quarterback recruit in the country and the No. 28 player in California by 247Sports.

Despite entering the game as a 29.5-point underdog, the Bruins are playing confidently under the leadership of the sophomore quarterback, leaving many to believe Garbers could be out as Bruins' starter.

UCLA is seeing immense improvement from its passing offense after a simple switch at quarterback.