Cal Football: Chase Garbers Cleared to Play, Might Start Vs. USC

Coach Justin Wilcox will name a starting QB later in the week

Chase Garbers has been cleared to practice fully and to play in a game, which means he might be Cal’s starting quarterback in Saturday night’s home game against USC. However, Cal coach Justin Wilcox said Monday night that he will not announce his starting quarterback until later in the week.

Wilcox noted that Garbers has been inactive for quite a while so it may take some time for him to get rid of the rust. That is why Devon Modster could remain the Bears’ starting quarterback for one more week.

(Click here for a video of Justin Wilcox talking about Garbers' status.)

Modster had his best game of the season in this past Saturday’s 33-20 victory over Washington State. He completed 16-of-24 passes and threw three touchdown passes. He also had a 13-yard touchdown run.

Garbers was playing the best football of his career when he was injured. He had a breakout performance in the Bears’ 28-20 road win over Mississippi on September 21. That pushed Cal’s record to 4-0 and the Bears were ranked 15th in the country heading into the following weekend’s game against Arizona State on Sept. 27.

Garbers continued his impressive play in the first half against the Sun Devils and the score was tied 7-7 when Garbers injured his right shoulder.

The Bears lost that game as well as the next three – against Oregon, Utah and Oregon State -- before they ended the losing streak against Washington State.

For the season, Garbers has completed 59.1 percent of his passes with eight touchdown passes and two interceptions for a passer rating of 190.40.

Modster has a 51.0 percent completion rate with five touchdown passes, three interceptions and a 122.0 passer rating.