Redshirt freshman linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia will miss a couple games with a shoulder injury suffered in Saturday’s 34-20 loss at Washington State.

“We are going to sit him at the very least for a couple of weeks,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said. “We had tests run and thought he’d be OK, but we are not going to be able to have him.”

Slade-Matautia is tied for 10th on the team with 20 tackles, including two for loss. After having a career-high six tackles in the 30-27 overtime win over Washington on Oct. 13, he was injured on his fourth play against the Wildcats.

Senior Kaulana Apelu, who has started every game this season at inside linebacker, has also missed practice this week due to injury. Cristobal said he “feels good” about Apelu’s availability to play against Arizona on Saturday.

Apelu is second on the team with 51 tackles after getting 14 against WSU. Sophomore Sampson Niu is listed as Apelu’s backup on the depth chart, but Keith Simms and Adrian Jackson could also fill in at that spot, according to defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt.

TURNING UP THE HEAT

Oregon practiced inside the Moshofsky Center for the first time this season Wednesday as the Ducks prepare to play in Tucson, which is expecting a high temperature of 88 degrees Saturday.

“We turned up the temperature a bit going to Tucson and made it a little hotter than that inside,” Cristobal said. “It was a good change of pace in there.”