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Cal's Jackson uncertain for action Saturday
Cal junior receiver/returner DeSean Jackson was in pads Wednesday for the first time since Sunday, but he didn't take any first-team repetitions.
"There's been no setback," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "His leg has been tight, and we're resting it."
DeSean Jackson injured his right thigh during his game to Washington on Nov. 17 and didn't return after halftime. He is considered day-to-day by Tedford.
"I honestly don't really know if I can play," DeSean Jackson said. "I'm trying to strengthen it. It's not where it needs to be. It's not normal."
DeSean Jackson has 60 catches for 681 yards and five touchdowns. He also has returned 12 punts for 129 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown.
No quarterback call: Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said he still has made no decision about whether senior T.C. Ostrander or sophomore Tavita Pritchard will be the starting quarterback. In fact, he opened the door even further by saying that both could play.
"The reps have been dead even," Harbaugh said. "They both can play. They both are talented guys who bring things to the table. They both do things that can help us move the ball.
"I think the plan right now is they both will play."
Back to Berkeley: Cousins Noris Malele, a right guard, and Matt Malele, a defensive tackle, returned to Cal from a "family emergency" for the first time since the Thanksgiving break.
Noris Malele practiced and is expected to play, according to Tedford. Matt Malele (leg injury) didn't practice, and his status is day-to-day.
"We had some family stuff to attend to at home, but we know we also have a family here and we needed to get back out here," Noris Malele said. "This rivalry has been around for a long time. We're looking forward to the chance of keeping the ax and bouncing back from the last game."
Best diagnosis: Tedford said he expects Jahvid Best to miss the rest of the season with a hip injury that could require surgery, but the freshman tailback isn't giving up on playing in a potential bowl game.
"The injury scares me a little bit, but I think a lot of it is just precautionary," Best said. "I'm still trying to come back, but we're trying to play it safe and make the best decision."
Cal's medical staff has sent images of Best's injured hip to a variety of specialists and has gotten mixed reactions. Some say the femur is bruised and shouldn't require surgery, and some believe there is a tear that needs a surgical procedure.
Mattran healing: Stanford center Tim Mattran, a sixth-year senior, was on crutches at Tuesday's practice, nursing the high ankle sprain on his left leg.
The next morning, he walked into the trainer's room with his crutches over his shoulder. Mattran, who started all 11 games, was in uniform at practice Wednesday evening. Redshirt freshman Bert McBride is taking the first-team snaps in Mattran's place.
Mattran, who has not started in a Big Game, credits anti-inflammatory medication for his quick healing.
"They gave me new drugs yesterday and I responded well," Mattran said. "I woke up and it felt great."
Mattran did not participate fully in practice, but is keeping up his hopes that he will be able to play in his final college game.
"Playing in this game has been my biggest motivation," Mattran said. "To have been here six years and never started a Big Game, it would be hard to look back on that."
Briefly: Cal junior Alex Mack was named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, which is given annually to the nation's top center.
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