UW football Notes | Bonnell likely to start; Locker still an option

The fog in Carl Bonnell's head had cleared, but that didn't mean Washington's quarterback situation wasn't still cloudy Monday.

UW coach Tyrone Willingham said at his weekly news conference that Bonnell will return to practice today, after suffering a mild concussion against Arizona State on Saturday, and will be the starter at Oregon this weekend assuming no setbacks.

Willingham also said that it is not an ironclad certainty that freshman Jake Locker will redshirt this season. Shortly after Saturday's 26-23 overtime loss, offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said the Huskies had decided to redshirt Locker and that it would be "senseless" to use him now that there are only three regular-season games left.

Willingham reiterated that, "I do think it's very important, if we can, to keep that redshirt year for Jake." But the coach said Monday that Locker is the No. 3 QB this week and that there are some scenarios in which Locker could play this season. Willingham threw out the option that Locker could play in just the final game, against Washington State, if it were the best move for the team.

"It is always subject to change," Willingham said.

But in all probability the Huskies will play out the season with Bonnell starting and Johnny DuRocher as the backup.

Willingham said he decided against playing Locker on Saturday once it became apparent that Bonnell's injury looked to be relatively minor.

Bonnell hit his head on the turf when he was pushed backward by ASU defensive end Dexter Davis with 7:35 left in the game.

Bonnell said he wanted to keep playing but trainers kept him out as a precautionary measure. He said he was told to stay away from all football activity for two days, which means he can return today.

"I feel pretty good right now," Bonnell said, adding that he has never before had a concussion.

Bonnell also said his left (nonthrowing) shoulder, which was sprained the week before against Cal, feels a lot better and that he didn't think it affected his play.

What did bother him was the box score showing that he was 9 for 23 with 67 yards and two interceptions.

"At the University of Washington, you can't have under 100 yards passing," he said. "That's pretty disappointing."

Bonnell said he felt the offense never had the same "swagger" as the week before, when the Huskies gained 446 yards in a 31-24 loss at Cal.

But Willingham said all the fault couldn't be placed on Bonnell, saying "there were a lot of places on our football team that were not good and a lot of those have an opportunity to influence the play of the quarterback."

DuRocher came on to complete a drive that tied the score against ASU, throwing a 4-yard pass to Sonny Shackelford with 2:19 left in the fourth quarter.

Willingham again praised DuRocher's play, particularly in light of the fact that DuRocher had taken very few snaps in practice the previous week.

Willingham said almost all of the snaps had been reserved for Bonnell and Locker.

The practice reps for the quarterbacks will be divvied up a little differently this week, Willingham said, with DuRocher likely getting a few more.

If DuRocher gets into Saturday's game, it will mark something of a homecoming as he spent the 2003 season and part of 2004 on the Oregon roster before transferring. But Willingham said he will have no predetermined plan to use DuRocher. Willingham also said there are no plans to get walk-on Felix Sweetman any reps in practice this week.

Notes

• There will be no live TV for the Stanford game Nov. 11, so it will remain as a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. UW will finish the year having nine of its 12 games on live television.

• Willingham said FS Jason Wells will miss the Oregon game with a knee injury suffered Saturday. Wells could return for the final two games. All other players injured Saturday should be able to return to at least limited duty, Willingham said.

• Willingham said he anticipates that RB Kenny James will be able to return this week. James missed the ASU game with a sprained ankle suffered against Cal.

• Injured QB Isaiah Stanback watched the game from the stands Saturday, which Willingham said was at his insistence because Stanback still has his foot immobilized. "I would feel really bad if he is standing near that sideline and something took place," Willingham said. "My thought was the best place for him was in the stands." Stanback is unlikely to make the trip to Oregon this weekend, Willingham said.

• Willingham is featured in a new commercial for DiGiorno Pizza alongside South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. Willingham plays the opposing coach at a news conference, filming his part this summer in Los Angeles. "Hopefully it turned out OK," he said.

• Willingham said Johnie Kirton will likely continue to be used in short-yardage situations. Kirton had one carry Saturday on a third-and-one play and picked up the needed yard before leaving the game because of an illness. He should be fine this week, Willingham said.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Read his blogs on Washington football and basketball at www.seattletimes.com/huskies.