Outside linebacker Anthony Barr left the field with an apparent head injury during a full-gear Tuesday night practice, raising concerns about filling the void of an All-American pass rusher.

Coach Jim Mora suggested Wednesday afternoon, the first practice after the end of sessions open to the public, that Barr’s injury is nothing serious.

Should anything else happen to the senior this season, the Bruins figure to have many replacement options at outside linebacker: Mora exuded a fondness of his young outside-linebacking corps’s varied capabilities. The second-year coach went as far as to say that the presence or absence of injuries would not necessarily play a role in minute distribution at the position.

“I think (all the outside linebackers) have something to add. What you’ll see, regardless of who’s healthy … you’re going to see all those guys playing. (Given) the nature of offenses now, with the 90 plays or 80 plays, the heat we’ll be playing in early in the year at the Rose Bowl, we’ll rotate guys … and try to keep them fresh,” Mora said.

Freshman outside linebacker Deon Hollins figures to most closely replicate Barr’s impact off of the line of scrimmage’s edge.

“Deon Hollins has rare … ability to get off at the snap. He’s something special to watch,” Mora said.

The coach identified Hollins as “really valuable” in passing situations, and that his “stout” build allows for good run defense as well.

Mora said that what outside linebacker Myles Jack currently lacks in pure pass-rushing ability, the freshman makes up for in versatility. His coach’s assessment appears to agree with Jack’s approach to learning the position. Rather than zeroing-in on a particular skill, Jack said he has mostly focused on learning his first college playbook, in addition to acclimating himself to the speed difference between high school and college football.

Jack and the rest of the linebackers figure to grow in their understanding of the game closely together. According to sophomore outside linebacker Kenny Orjioke, most of the team’s linebackers live in the same house and breakdown film on other teams as a group.

Captains Named 

Following Wednesday’s afternoon practice, Mora announced to the media Saturday’s captaincy voting results. Returning captain Xavier Su’a-Filo, a junior left guard, will be joined on offense by quarterback Brett Hundley and center Jake Brendel, both redshirt sophomores. All three defensive captains come from the Bruins’ linebacking corps: Inside linebackers and redshirt juniors Eric Kendricks and Ryan Hofmeister will be joined by Barr. In addition, each game will feature a different captain who represents the special teams.

Mora claimed that each leader demonstrates a good representation of his staff’s ideal of Bruins as “players and people.”