Cal running back Jahvid Best missed the first scrimmage of training camp Tuesday because of a sore toe and hasn't taken a rep in practice since Friday.

Cal coach Jeff Tedford said the injury is not major and the team simply wants Best's aches and pains "to calm down" before unleashing him at practice again.

Best, the nation's returning leading rusher who has emerged as a top preseason Heisman Trophy contender, had offseason surgery on his elbow and foot and missed all of spring practice.

"It's doing all right," Best said. "Right now, we're just kind of being cautious about it. That's why I haven't been taking too many reps. It's going as we planned."

Best is still getting in cardiovascular work before practices and going through some individual drills with the team. Still, Best has taken only a few hits since last season's Emerald Bowl.

"There's nothing wrong with him," Tedford said. "He cuts so hard that when he has a sore toe, it hinders him quite a lot. He could get through it, but when we get to game week, he's going to have the same sore toe. It's just a matter of letting it calm down. It's nothing major at all."

  • The bad luck continues for wide receiver Michael Calvin. The sophomore underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and is expected to be out a couple weeks.

    Calvin had reconstructive surgery on the same knee last October after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during practice.

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    That followed a sprained toe that limited him to just eight catches through the first four games.

  • With all the attention on Kevin Riley's ability to keep his starting job at quarterback, there has been little fanfare about the arrival of freshman Allan Bridgford, considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation. Bridgford is another in a consistent string of top-level quarterback recruits to join the Bears in recent years. Riley and Brock Mansion were considered top prospects coming out of high school, as is 2010 commit Austin Hinder.

    Bridgford figures to be the Bears' scout team quarterback this season.

  • Riley and Mansion took equal first- and second-team reps Tuesday, and both performed better with the second unit. Riley ended up 11-for-21 for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and Mansion was 14-for-22 for 131 yards and three TD passes. ... Projected starting center Chris Guarnero underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his thumb Tuesday but is expected to miss only a couple days. ... Tight end Tad Smith went down with a knee injury during the scrimmage. The severity of the injury won't be known until today.