Cal football fall practice #1: Byron Cardwell, Collin Gamble out for the season

The California Golden Bears are down two potential key contributors for the 2023 season.

Credit: Cal Football

We interrupt your Pac-12 implosion bulletins to alert you that the California Golden Bears are practicing football again. Fall camp kicked off on Wednesday afternoon.

Unfortunately it starts with bad news. Head coach Justin Wilcox announced two significant casualties for the 2023 season.

Running back Byron Cardwell, likely backup to Jaydn Ott, is out for the season.

So is cornerback/likely starting nickelback Collin Gamble.

Linebacker Sam Ross will also be out for 2023.

Additionally, transfer running back Justin Williams-Thomas is recovering from a spring injury and did not practice. Wilcox is hopeful that Williams-Thomas can return during camp.

With Cardwell and Williams-Thomas sidelined, that leaves the Bears with a thin RB room again. Behind Ott stands Purdue grad transfer King Doerue and Montana State grad transfer Isaiah Ifanse.

With Gamble out, Cal has a few options inside to defend the slot, including JUCO transfer Matthew Littlejohn and Cam Sidney.

Two quarterbacks were interviewed today: Sam Jackson V.

And new NC State transfer Ben Finley.

Wilcox deferred on speaking on the state of the Pac-12, focusing instead on what the team has control over.

Wilcox expects Stanford transfer Barrett Miller to start out at offensive guard.

Upon being asked about his favorite memory at Memorial Stadium, Wilcox did mention everytime the Victory Cannon goes off.