The Washington Huskies came out of Friday night with a win and, just as important, a healthier looking sideline.
After beating Purdue 38-26 for their first Big Ten victory of the season, Washington got encouraging news on several players who had been dealing with injuries or a flu bug that moved through the locker room. The Huskies entered the game with 10 players out, including third-year quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and sixth-year wide receiver Christian Moss, who were already sidelined by injuries suffered earlier this season. Third-year defensive tackle Kai McClendon and first-year running back Ansu Sanoe were also among the players listed as doubtful or out in the lead-up to the game.
The running back room took another hit during the win when sixth-year back Trey Cooley left on his final carry of the night. Cooley had gone over 100 rushing yards for the first time since 2021, when he was at Louisville.
Now the outlook is better heading into Washington’s next game against Nebraska. Cooley sat out Sunday’s practice, but he is expected to be cleared this week and should be ready for the Huskies’ matchup with the Cornhuskers at 5 p.m.
PT on Oct. 31.
McClendon’s absence from the Purdue game was not injury-related. Instead, he was one of the players affected by the flu bug that spread through the team.
He had missed all of last season because of injury and also missed most of offseason practice for the same reason before seeing his snap count gradually rise as the year progressed. He is expected to be cleared for practice this week.
Sanoe was also dealing with the flu, and the team kept players with the illness off the plane to West Lafayette, Ind., to avoid spreading it further. Fisch said both Sanoe and McClendon were in a "pretty contagious spot," and Sanoe will be cleared for practice this week as well.
There was also positive news on first-year edge rusher Ramzak Fruean, one of two true freshman starters on the defensive line. He was knocked out of the Purdue game by an undisclosed injury, but he "should be good to go" against Nebraska.
Fruean will miss this week of practice and is scheduled to be cleared Oct. 25.
Watts also left the game against the Boilermakers with an undisclosed injury and is expected back for the Halloween matchup with the Cornhuskers.
In Other News...
Washington's Quarterback Battle Just Got Very Real Before Nebraska
The quarterback picture in Montlake suddenly looks a lot less settled heading into Nebraska. Jedd Fisch made it clear the starting job is open, with Elijah Brown and Demond Williams Jr. both in the mix after Williams was sidelined by a rib injury and Brown stepped in for his first start, then helped Washington earn its first Big Ten win of the season.
Williams has been cleared to practice, which only sharpens the competition as the Huskies turn toward their next game. Browns showing against a conference opponent gave the staff something to think about, and Fisch now has a real decision on his hands as Washington weighs whether to stick with the transfer from Stanford or get Williams back under center if hes ready. [Read more 🡒]
Jedd Fisch Made One Thing Clear About Washington's Bye Week
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Fisch also gave a wide-ranging update on personnel, touching on the progress of Elijah Brown and Demond Williams, along with injuries to Trey Cooley, Ramzak Fruean and DeSean Watts. The bigger takeaway, though, was philosophical: nothing is settled, and competition is still open at every spot, including quarterback, as Washington tries to clean up turnovers and come out of the break more consistent. [Read more 🡒]
Jedd Fisch Sees A Playoff Shift That Could Help Washington
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The model being discussed would add more automatic access for conference champions while leaving room for additional at-large spots, which would make the playoff feel less like a closed club and more like a season-long race with more teams still alive deep into November. For Washington, that kind of setup could matter in a Big Ten landscape where the margins are thin and the path to the bracket is rarely simple, especially if the sport settles on a format that rewards more programs for staying relevant longer. [Read more 🡒]