Arizona linebacker Hank Hobson is carted off the field with a neck injury at UCLA on Nov. 3. Photo by Andrew Fielding-US PRESSWIRE

RELATED: Arizona likely to seek medical hardship for Terrence Miller

The Arizona Wildcats’ injury problems started during their spring game. That’s when safety Adam Hall tore his ACL for the second time in a year.

The bad news kept coming for Rich Rodriguez in the summer and fall camp.

Four players never made it to the start of the season, including sophomore linebacker Rob Hankins, who had to give up football because of a concussion. Senior Greg Nwoko, who moved from running back to linebacker in camp, suffered a career-ending hip injury.

Injuries hit hard at offensive tackle. Jack Baucus, a converted tight end who might have been able to help, succumbed to a knee injury and is no longer on the roster. Promising redshirt freshman Jacob Arzouman suffered a torn ACL in August practice. Another redshirt freshman tackle, Lene Maiava, played in four games before tearing his ACL.

The offensive line further had to be a mix-and-match unit to cover for in-season injuries to guard Trace Biskin, center Kyle Quinn and guard/tackle Chris Putton.

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Austin Hill after being hit by Oregon’s John Boyett last season. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Arizona Wildcats receiver Austin Hill doesn’t remember much from last year’s game against Oregon, which tends to happen after being knocked out.

But he’s seen the game tape.

The moment in question came early in third quarter. Hill went up for a pass and as he was falling down, Ducks safety John Boyett came crashing in with a shoulder-to-helmet hit. Hill’s head slammed into the Arizona Stadium turf.

Hill was motionless on the field for about 30 seconds having suffered a concussion. He was able to walk off the field with assistance.

There was no penalty on the play — that didn’t sit well with coach Mike Stoops, remember? — but Hill said this week that the hit was “clean.”

“My head hit the ground pretty hard,” he said. “I think it was the ground that caused more of the damage anyway. I had a lot of whiplash.”

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Adam Hall made 54 tackles as a sophomore. Photo by Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

Injured safety Adam Hall, whose status with the Arizona Wildcats seemed uncertain a week ago, is once again “with the program.”

Hall, recovering from a torn ACL in the spring game, was rehabbing during Tuesday’s practice, wearing a yellow jersey signifying an injured player.

“You’re either with the program or you’re not,” coach Rich Rodriguez said, “and he’s with the program right now.”

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Arizona Wildcats safety Adam Hall tweeted Saturday night that he tore an ACL in the spring game, possibly wiping out his 2012 season, one year after he was able to play in only one game.

I tore my acl if you didn’t hear now you know thank you for all the prayers #Beardown

— James Hall (@J_12Smooth) April 15, 2012

Hall also tore an ACL last spring during a practice. He returned to play in the sixth game of the season, against Oregon State, but did not play again all season.

He had been back at full speed this spring, although he was working with the second team during Saturday’s scrimmage. That doesn’t mean much with no formal depth chart right now.

Hall might have been injured when making a big hit on receiver Sean Willet, knocking the ball loose for an incompletion. Willet stayed down on the field for a minute or two but was able to return. Coach Rich Rodriguez said after the scrimmage that he thought Hall might have “tweaked” his knee.

And then Hall tweeted the worse news about five hours later.

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Adam Hall (left) is restrained by center Kyle Quinn after Hall's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second half. Photo by Jim Z. Rider-US PRESSWIRE.

Junior safety Adam Hall made a successful season debut after recovering from a spring ACL injury. Hall started the game and finished with a team-high 10 tackles in a 37-27 loss at Oregon State.

“He brings more force to our defense,” coach Mike Stoops said on his postgame radio interview on 1290-AM.

“He gives it everything he has. I’m very proud of him. He pushed himself through it. That first time on the field coming off a major knee injury is always traumatic, and I’m really proud of the way he handled it and moved around.

“He’ll continue to get better.”

On the downside, Hall did receive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

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Oregon State's Sean Mannion completed 32 of 41 passes for 267 yards against Arizona. Photo by Jim Z. Rider-US PRESSWIRE

A slow start, horrible special teams play and a team unable to make a key play in the clutch when the game is within reach in the second half.

Sound familiar?

It all happened again for Arizona, which lost 37-27 at previously winless Oregon State.

The Wildcats have lost five in a row this season and 10 in a row to FBS teams.

More here: Some quick postgame notes and quotes on Adam Hall’s return, Juron Criner’s status and other nonsense.

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A tale of two fourth-and-goal plays from the 2.

Oregon State converted its attempt for a touchdown and a 37-27 lead.

Arizona drives down and has third-and-goal from the 1 before Keola Antolin is stuffed for a 1-yard loss. On fourth down, Foles has receiver Dan Buckner slanting from the right side, but he drops the pass amid tight coverage with 3:02 left.

And that should be that.

* * *

Huge play here. Oregon State has fourth-and-goal from the 2 with 5:28 to play. Arizona calls timeout to set up its defense …

The Beavers run play-action … QB Sean Mannion steps back away from a charging Mohammed Usman from his defensive end spot … and Mannion fires over the middle to tight end Joe Halahuni just over the goal line for a touchdown.

Now it gets tough for Arizona, down 37-27.

* * *

Arizona can’t get over the hump. Nick Foles can’t connect on third-and-2 from the 13, and Arizona has to punt, which looks like an attempted fake (or probably just a rugby punt option).

Anyway, Kyle Dugandzic takes a few steps to his right, has no room to go anywhere, and manages to squeeze through a line drive attempt for 30 yards.

OSU takes over at the UA 43.

* * *

A three-and-out for the UA defense. Punter Johnny Hekker gets the roll on a rugby punt for 63 yards, down at the Arizona 5.

Nothing comes easy for this UA team.

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Junior safety Adam Hall (middle) is one of the defense's most emotional players. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats coach Mike Stoops upgraded the status of junior safety Adam Hall after practice Wednesday, saying, “He’s very close.”

Hall has been out since late March with an ACL tear suffered in spring practice.

“He’s practicing well, so we’ll see,” Stoops said.

“I like what he’s doing. He’s close. He’s very explosive right now. We’ll see tomorrow how he does, how he feels. He was in there getting some contact today, and that’s good. He’s on the right track.”

Hall had 54 tackles and two interceptions last season, when he played nickel back. He earned a reputation as Arizona’s fiercest hitter and one of the defense’s most vocal, energetic players.

His return, even in what would be a limited role at first as he rebuilds stamina, should at least be an emotional boost to a defense in need of something good after getting chewed up by Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon and USC in succession.

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Adam Hall's return from an ACL tear could be just a couple of weeks away. Photo by Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

At the rate things are going, the Arizona Wildcats are going to need a big second half of the season to make a push for a bowl game. The good news is the Wildcats could get three key players back with half the season to play.

Starting safety Adam Hall might be back even sooner.

Hall is one of three players trying to come back from spring ACL injuries, the others being starting linebacker Jake Fischer and fullback Greg Nwoko. Defensive tackle Willie Mobley tore his ACL in May playing pickup basketball and is out for the season.

“They’ll be a couple of weeks away,” coach Mike Stoops said of the others on Monday, “but I’m confident they will be back.”

More specifically, Hall is slightly ahead in his rehab and the game at Oregon State on Oct. 8 “would be a good estimation” for his return, Stoops said.

He added: “I’m not putting USC out of the question,” referring to Arizona’s game in Los Angeles on Oct. 1.

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Adam Hall could be back in action in several weeks. Photo by Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats starting safety Adam Hall and starting linebacker Jake Fischer could be back by the beginning of October as they push ahead in their ACL rehabs, coach Mike Stoops said after Thursday’s practice.

“I would say that would be the best-case scenario,” Stoops said of the early October return. “After the break, the last six games, would be the worst-case scenario.”

Arizona has an open date after an Oct. 8 game at Oregon State. So, in Stoops’ worst-case scenario, Hall and Fischer would be ready for a Thursday night home game against UCLA on Oct. 20.

“We’ll know more as the next couple of weeks progress,” Stoops said.

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Jake Fischer is taken off the field at the spring scrimmage after suffering an ACL tear in his right knee. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

As Arizona football players Adam Hall and Jake Fischer recovered from spring ACL injuries, they marked success by first being up to walk up the steps of the football stadium.

Then, they could jog up the stairs. Then they could run.

“Now, I’m full-speed sprint,” Hall, a projected starter at safety, said Wednesday as veteran players reported to camp. “It has been a lot of progress.”

The stadium workouts were twice a week during summer — 10 times up and down the west side of the stadium, 10 times up and down the Zona Zoo side of the stadium.

The status of Hall and Fischer, a returning starter at strongside linebacker, is one of the big questions of Arizona’s fall camp, but it is not an issue that can be answered right now. What both players said Wednesday was encouraging, though.

“We don’t have a date yet for a return, but we’re all moving faster than we were supposed to,” Fischer said. “All of us are way ahead of schedule.”

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