UW's Locker will miss Saturday's game against Oregon with fractured rib.
Add one more blow to list of Washington’s (3-5) dull season. The Huskies will face #1 Oregon without the services of starting QB Jake Locker. Locker, who has been one of the year’s biggest disappointments, suffered a fractured rib last Saturday against Stanford after taking several brutal hits in the game. The Huskies’ QB had been bothered by cartilage damage to the same rib since playing Oregon State, but continued playing through the injury. “It was something that was checked out and making sure nothing changed from week to week. It’s something they made sure that I was comfortable with, and my family was comfortable with,” Locker said. “It was getting better. It was sore, but that’s part of football.”
Locker’s status as pro quarterback has taken a considerable hit this season. Once dubbed a solidified #1 draft pick by ESPN draft analyst, Mel Kiper, many pro teams are now having second thoughts on his potential as a NFL quarterback. Washington will have to win three more games to become bowl eligible. With Oregon being the team’s 4th to last opponent on the season, the Huskies will have to win 3 of their last 4 to make the post-season. However, without Locker, the chances of that happening are very dim.
