A week of speculation has led to the expected development: quarterback Jayden de Laura will not play for Arizona against No. 7 Washington on Saturday night due to an ankle injury, opening the door for Noah Fifita to make his first career start.
Fifita, a redshirt freshman, came on for de Laura in the fourth quarter of last weekend’s 21-20 win at Stanford, leading Arizona on the game-winning touchdown drive and also icing the game with a second possession. He was 4 of 4 for 47 yards and ran twice for 10 yards.
De Laura had made the previous 16 starts for the Wildcats since transferring from Washington State but was ruled out after injuring his ankle on the final play of the third quarter at Stanford.