UCLA safety Tony Dye, out since Sept. 17 because of a lingering neck issue, may return to the lineup this weekend when the Bruins visit Utah.

Dye, a senior who was the team's leading tackler last season, was feeling stingers in his neck during the Sept. 10 game against San Jose State and tried to play through it the following week against Texas and has sat out since.

He has been practicing with the team this week, however, and looks as if he is close to a return.

"Tony Dye may be available," coach Rick Neuheisel said. "I don’t know what the chances are, but he is chomping at the bit and wanting to participate."

Because Dye played in only the first three games, he may have been eligible for a medical redshirt season if he sat out the remainder of the season, but Neuheisel said Dye and his family don't want to do that.

"I think he’s been cleared to play, it’s just a question of the family saying this is exactly what we want to do and that’s the way they’re leaning right now," Neuheisel said.