Washington is getting a boost in the backfield at just the right time.
Fourth-year running back Jayden Limar is expected to suit up Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, marking his first action since Week 1. Limar returned to practice this week and is listed as probable on the team’s injury report, with a significant workload expected if he gets through Thursday’s session without any setbacks.
That matters for a Huskies team that has been battling attrition in its running back room for months. The injuries started in spring practice, when third-year back Jordan Washington, the projected starter, went down with a neck injury.
Then came Week 1 of the season, when second-year running back Quaid Carr and fourth-year running back both suffered long-term injuries in Washington’s 24-10 win over the Washington State Cougars on Sept. 6.
Second-year running back Julian McMahan also was lost for the season with a foot/ankle injury.
The depth chart has stayed thin ever since. In Washington’s 38-26 win over the Purdue Boilermakers on Oct. 16, the Huskies traveled with just three running backs: first-year Brian Bonner Jr., sixth-year Trey Cooley and second-year Ryken Moon.
Cooley left that game with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder and is questionable against Nebraska. First-year running back Ansu Sanoe will miss his second straight game Saturday because of a foot injury.
Still, Limar’s return gives Washington at least some relief. Head coach Jedd Fisch said Thursday on a Zoom news conference, "I expect Jayden to play," Fisch said.
" ... I think that'll be really, really good.
Hopefully (a) spark for us in terms of adding another running back into the equation. Last week we only had three running backs on our travel squad.
So the fact that we could bring a couple more running backs this week, at least one more running back this week, that's a real positive. I do expect, assuming there's no setbacks (Thursday) in practice, that he will be good to go to at least participate in a decent amount of reps on Saturday."
A Lake Stevens, Wash., native, Limar joined Washington this offseason after spending three years as a reserve with the Oregon Ducks. Before his injury, he had carried the ball 12 times for 47 yards and a touchdown.
In Other News...
Washingtons Trip To Nebraska Looks Tougher Than Fans Might Think
Washingtons trip to Nebraska has the feel of a game that could be more complicated than it looks on paper. The Cornhuskers are 5-2 under Matt Rhule in his fourth year, and the structure around this team has changed enough that the old assumptions about Nebraska no longer really fit. Dana Holgorsen is coordinating the offense with Glenn Thomas working closely with the quarterbacks, and Anthony Colandrea has settled in as the kind of upgrade at the position that can change how a matchup is played and, just as importantly, how it is defended.
What makes this one tricky for the Huskies is how many moving parts Nebraska now has in place on both sides of the ball. Owen Chambliss is the headliner on a defense built around a 4-2-5 look, and the broader fan discussion around the Huskers has centered on player roles and whether this version of the team is finally built to hold up in the games that matter most. For Washington, that means this is not just another road test. It is the kind of matchup where the details, and not just the record, may decide how uncomfortable the afternoon becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Washington May Have Avoided A Bigger Problem Against Nebraska
Washingtons pass-rush plans got a little more interesting heading into Nebraska when Ramzak Frueans status changed from the bluntest possible injury designation to something far less final. The edge rusher had initially been listed out with a knee injury, but a strong day of rehabilitation put him back on the radar, and Jedd Fisch said he is now trending toward being available. Even with that progress, the Huskies are still being careful about what exactly he can handle if he suits up.
For a defense that needs bodies on the edge, the timing matters. Washington is preparing to start fifth-year edge rusher Isaiah Ward in Frueans spot, which gives the Huskies a workable backup plan if the week does not end with a full return. The larger question is less about whether Fruean can dress and more about how much he can contribute if he does, a detail that could shape how Washington attacks Nebraska. [Read more 🡒]
Jedd Fisch Backs A Change That Could Help Washington Compete In The Big Ten
As Washington prepares for another Big Ten season, Jedd Fisch is signaling that he welcomes a tougher, more uniform set of rules around college athletics. The Huskies coach said during a news conference that he backs the Protect College Sports Act and the conference-wide NIL spending guidelines the Big Ten has put in place, a notable stance as the league continues to try to sort out competitive balance in an era of escalating player movement and money.
Fischs support matters because Washington is now operating in one of the sports most demanding leagues, where roster retention and resource management can shape the margin between contending and merely competing. The broader debate around NIL and transfer rules is still far from settled, with the Senate already moving the PCSA forward and the House still to weigh in, but Fisch made clear where he stands as the Huskies adjust to the realities of life in the Big Ten. [Read more 🡒]