SEATTLE (AP) - Even with a week off, Washington still might not get its best player on the field at UCLA.
A helmet to the thigh nine days ago has left Washington quarterback Jake Locker with a deep thigh bruise in his right leg, and Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday his star QB is questionable for Saturday's game against the Bruins.
But a few minutes later, and as Sarkisian predicted, Locker said "I expect to be out there," when the Huskies (3-5, 2-3 Pac-10) go for their first win at UCLA since 1995.
"I thought it was a Charlie horse type of deal and they usually go away after 10 minutes or so," Locker said. "This one just kind of hung around for a little bit."
The injury has lingered to the point where Locker was a spectator during Washington's three practices last week before its bye, and to where Locker saw the physical therapist he's worked with since high school over the weekend. The bleeding and swelling in his right leg has yet to subside, but Locker said the pain and stiffness has gotten better with each day of treatment.
He did a little activity during practice Sunday night, Sarkisian said. Locker was at practice on Monday and splitting reps with the Huskies' No. 1 offense.
Locker was injured in the first quarter of Washington's 43-19 loss to Oregon on Oct. 24. On a third-and-2 run at the Oregon 12 midway through the first quarter, Locker kept for 3 yards before taking a hard hit from the Ducks' Javes Lewis. From there, Locker's leg became progressively stiffer and he was noticeably limping in the final minutes of the blowout.
At first, Sarkisian said Locker was cramping, but a few days later Sarkisian said he had a quadriceps injury.
Locker will be limited in his reps the next few days. Sarkisian said it's a difficult balance between testing just what Locker's leg can handle and not pushing him so much he aggravates the injury and is completely unavailable for the Bruins.
"I don't want to put a guy out there that can't move, that is just a sitting target to get hit," Sarkisian said. "So we'll assess him daily. I think it's getting healthy by the day. But with that comes the workload of: do you work him and then it's one hit and then he's back out? Is it one strain and it hurts him again? So we've got to be cognizant of that."
Locker leads the Pac-10 in total offense at 271.9 yards per game and is third in yards passing. He threw for 266 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Oregon, but was held to a season-low minus-16 yards rushing against the Ducks, including four sacks.
If Locker can't go, the Huskies would turn to sophomore Ronnie Fouch, who started the final eight games last season after Locker went down with a broken right thumb.
It wasn't a positive first experience for Fouch. He threw 13 interceptions to just four touchdowns and he completed less than 50 percent of his throws, all part of the Huskies' miserable 0-12 season.
This year, Fouch has just one pass attempt and has played in just two games. Sarkisian said Fouch got critical reps last week while Locker was resting.
"I think he took the brunt of a lot of the heat that was going on. When your team is behind extensively and you're throwing the ball, and they're rushing the passer, it's not a very fun position to be in as a quarterback. You kind of click into survival mode at that position," Sarkisian said. "So I think he's out of the survival mode stage and having fun playing football."
Sarkisian also said that linebacker E.J. Savannah is doubtful to play against the Bruins, but should return this season. Savannah broke a bone in his left hand against Oregon -- his third break in that hand this season -- and had surgery last week.
