Notebook | Injured Jake Locker wants to play — at any position

Jake Locker has been knocked out of two of the past seven games he's played, sidelined in another for a series, and suffered a hamstring injury during a drill in camp that cost him an additional two weeks of practice.

But Tuesday, wearing a sling to protect his latest ailment — a broken thumb that will keep him out six to eight weeks — all he could think of was getting back on the field.

Even if it means playing a position other than quarterback.

"I don't want to live life scared or tentative," he said in his first comments since being injured Saturday against Stanford. "I want to enjoy it and have fun, and I believe the best way to do that is to be on the field, no matter where it is."

Locker, however, said he hasn't talked with coaches about it, and earlier in the day, during the Pac-10 coaches conference call, Tyrone Willingham seemed to pour a lot more cold water on the idea than he had on Monday.

"It would be inappropriate for us to have those talks and those discussions right now," Willingham said. "We need to make sure the focus is on getting Jake healthy." On Monday, Willingham said playing Locker elsewhere was "possible."

Locker had lengthy surgery Monday to repair the thumb, and Locker said as far as he knows, it all went fine.

Willingham said the prognosis for Locker's return didn't change after surgery, still at six to eight weeks. Locker said he would be examined again in two weeks and would "know more then."

Locker was hurt while throwing a block on a reverse by Jordan Polk. He said he thinks he was injured when his hand bumped into the legs of Stanford safety Sean Wiser.

"He kind of moved to the side right at the last minute and I stuck my hand out to get him and I think my hand got caught on him," Locker said.

Locker said the play was designed for him to throw a block, and he said the injury was "just a fluke deal."

Locker stayed in for two more plays, keeping the ball on a run, and then throwing an incomplete pass to D'Andre Goodwin.

"I thought maybe I just bruised it or something and it was just sore, so I tried to stay in a couple of plays," Locker said. "And when I threw it I had no control over the ball."

After having the thumb examined, Locker returned to the sideline for most of the second half. TV cameras caught him on a few occasions smiling and joking around with teammates, actions that have earned some criticism from fans.

"I think you guys know me and the fact that yeah, it sucks being injured and not being able to play," he said. "But to go out there and sulk and feel bad for myself and be a negative vibe is not going to help anybody. I needed to be a guy coming on the sidelines that they knew I still believed in them and was still there for them and that I do truly believe they can get it done. ... I was just trying to be as good a teammate as I could be at that point."

Notes

• Goodwin, who suffered a rib injury but no break, said he would play Saturday. He wore a red jersey in practice.

• Also in red was LB Donald Butler (concussion) with his prognosis still uncertain, as well.

• The status of RB David Freeman (injuries to both ankles) is unclear. UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said the team would begin the week planning that Freeman won't play Saturday. That would likely leave either Brandon Johnson or Willie Griffin as the starting tailback.

• Safety Victor Aiyewa (groin) returned to practice for the first time since the Oregon game.

• Willingham said CB Byron Davenport will have knee surgery in the next couple of weeks to repair an old injury.