Cal LB Downs out for season

Oct 17, 2017 - 1:50 AM Cal senior linebacker Devante Downs, who earned consecutive Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, is out of the rest of the year, the school announced Monday.

Downs sustained what was described as a lower-body injury last week in the Bears' upset victory over then-No. 8 Washington State.

Downs leads the Bears in several categories, including tackles (65), sacks (three), interceptions (two) and forced fumbles (two).

"I really feel for Devante because he's just been a warrior and worked extremely hard," Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. "So you really feel for him."

Downs has been at the forefront of Cal's defensive improvement under first-year head coach Wilcox. The Bears are allowing 422.3 yards per game. While that ranks only 96th nationally, it is about 96 yards fewer than they allowed last season.

Cal (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) hosts Arizona (4-2, 2-1) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.