Jim Mora fiercely defends Josh Rosen after perceived slight by ESPN analyst

UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen left the Bruins’ game against Washington with an injury to his non-throwing hand, and broadcasters Brock Huard and Dave Wischusen discussed the situation.

“When there’s as much on the line as Josh Rosen being the No. 1 quarterback,” said Huard, “the No. 2 overall pick, what this looks like, what this means to all the NFL evaluators who are in the sunshine today, trying to figure out just what went wrong today and what this will mean for the future of Josh Rosen.”

Wischusen then asked if there was a question of toughness with Rosen and Huard went on to cite Drew Bledsoe and Brett Favre as quarterbacks who played with pins sticking out of fingers, with broken hands.

Rosen’s injury was reported as not that serious after the game, but he sat out Monday’s practice with a malady that coach Jim Mora declined to elaborate on. What Mora did elaborate on was Huard’s comments, in great detail.

Mora was asked vaguely about comments made on the broadcast directed at Rosen. The reporter didn’t reference Huard’s name. Mora did though:

“That woulda been Brock Huard? Yeah, I’ve known Brock a long time.”

He was then asked if he had any reaction to Huard’s comments, and said “no,” with a scoff. And then he said:

“I would put very little stock in what Brock Huard has to say about anything that has to do with football,” Mora said. “That’ll be controversial, but it’s the truth. ... I’ve known that kid since he was in college.”

When asked if they were friends, Mora also said “no.”

Another reporter tried to take the presser in a different direction and Mora stopped him to elaborate again.

“I think it’s ludicrous that anyone would question Josh Rosen’s toughness when they don’t know the nature of his injury,” Mora said. “In all fairness to my comment, for a broadcaster to know zippo about what’s going on there to question the toughness of Josh Rosen, like, I guess it drives ratings, I don’t know.

“Maybe the producer was talking in his ear, I don’t know. But it doesn’t make any sense to me that Brock Huard has any way to ever question Josh Rosen. But that’s his job, so I do understand that that’s his job.”

Coaches are always going to stand up for their guys, but there’s more here that. It seems like Huard really struck a nerve in Mora, because the clapback is fierce.