Locker questionable for Saturday's game

Nov 3, 2009, 12:00 AM

Jake Locker says he should be ready to go by the time Washington faces UCLA on Saturday, but his coach thinks that the deep bruise in the quarterback's right thigh may make that a little difficult. UW head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that Locker is "questionable" for Saturday as his bruise continues to heal. Locker sat out through much of last week's practice but was back taking snaps on Sunday, though in a limited role, Sarkisian said. Locker suffered the injury in the first quarter of Washington's loss to Oregon on Oct. 24, but played through it and didn't leave the game until it turned into a blowout in the fourth quarter. Sarkisian told reporters he didn't think Locker could have played last week had the Huskies been playing. They had a bye. "He's going to be a day-to-day guy," Sarkisian said. "We're not going to force him back on the field if he's not healthy and ready to go. I would anticipate that he would be, but it remains day to day." Locker, as is usually the case in such a situation, was more optimistic about his chances of being under center come game time. But that's not entirely his call. So expect Locker to lobby on behalf of himself if the swelling still hasn't gone down enough for it to be a no-brainer at kickoff. "They expect me to be honest with them with how I feel and what I'll be able to do," Locker said. "Then ultimately, it will come down to what they feel is best for me and this football team." Honest? "Oh, yeah," he said. "I expect to be out there." If he's not, though, that means another opportunity for backup Ronnie Fouch, who grinded through the final eight games of last year's 0-12 finish as the starter after Locker broke his thumb. Fouch completed 113 of 250 passes last season for 1,339 yards, throwing just four touchdowns and 13 interceptions. But it might not be fair to judge Fouch based entirely off last season, since most around the program agree that things had fallen apart so badly at that point that Fouch never really had a chance. Still, he hasn't proven himself a capable replacement. He'll get the chance to do that if Locker's thigh doesn't get better. He'll also split reps with Locker in practice this week, and Sarkisian says he's confident Fouch could run the offense properly. "I feel fine," Sarkisian said. "I think the way this game plan is set up, I think Ronnie could go in and perform very well." Locker has faith in his understudy, too. "Ronnie's always been a really confident player," Locker said. "He's very talented. He throws the ball really well and understands what we're doing on offense. I think the biggest thing for him - as it was for me - is just understanding when something's not there, not to try and force it, and either throw it away or throw it to your check down. He's done a really good job of that all camp and when he's got his opportunities in practice." NOTES Sarkisian said E.J. Savannah is almost certainly out this week after having surgery to repair a broken left hand. Savannah has played with some sort of cast for the entire season. ...Everrette Thompson is the latest UW player to get hit with the flu, missing practice Sunday. He should be fine by the weekend, Sarkisian said. ...Sarkisian also said he'd play true freshman Keith Price at quarterback if both Locker and Fouch were injured. Reach Sports Editor Christian Caple at sports@dailyuw.com.

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