No One Among UW Walking Wounded Is Ruled Out Yet for Michigan State Game

The Huskies have multiple players on track to return from assorted injuries.

No University of Washington players who either sat out or had to leave the Tulsa game with an injury — including four previous or current starters — have been ruled out for Saturday's outing at Michigan State, the Huskies coaching staff said on Monday.

Running back Dillon Johnson and edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui, starters in the opener, both missed Washington's matchup with Tulsa with unspecified injuries, though Johnson has dealt with an ongoing knee issue. Starting center Matteo Mele and safety Asa Turner went out with hand or arm injuries, against the Golden Hurricane and all remain possibilities to play against the Spartans when the Huskies travel to East Lansing.

Reserve defensive tackle Jayvon Parker and cornerback Davon Banks also were shaken up against Tulsa, while 2022 starting defensive tackle Faatui Tuitele was held out for the second consecutive game with an unspecified, and all have a chance to return for the trip east, the coaches said.

Mele headed for the sideline with nine minutes remaining in the Huskies 43-10 victory over Tulsa, favoring his left hand or arm, and was surrounded by medical staff.

"We're still examining him," offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said of Mele. "They're working through it right now. He got some tests run yesterday and some today. "We'll see where he's at probably tomorrow at practice."

If Mele is unable to play, redshirt freshman guard Parker Brailsford likely will slide over to center again. The versatile Brailsford was recruited as a center out of Saguaro High School in Mesa, Arizona, but had started at right guard for both UW games before replacing Mele late on Saturday.

Johnson, the Mississippi State transfer and first-game starter in the backfield, has had trouble bouncing back from a pair of knee surgeries and was a late scratch by the coaches for the Tulsa game.

"He's looking better," Grubb said of the running back. "He had a good workout before the game. We decided not to let him go."

Kalen DeBoer said that they're "working through" the status of defensive backs Asa Turner and Davon Banks this week

— Roman Tomashoff (@rtomashoff34) September 11, 2023

Jayvon Parker, the sophomore defensive tackle and one of a set of Michigan-produced twins, went down late in the fourth quarter against Tulsa and walked off the field, but should be ready for the game in his home state, co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said.

Tuitele, who did not suit up against Tulsa but was in uniform and didn't play against Boise State, could be back this week, too. 

"He's been training very similarly to Dillon Johnson," UW coach Kalen DeBoer said of the junior defensive lineman. "He's been on a good regimen with his return, so early in the week we should be able to work through that."

Turner and Banks, who both had to leave the Tulsa game, haven't been ruled out of the Michigan game and are working through their issues, DeBoer said.

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