SEATTLE -- Here is a quick-hitting look at Washington’s fifth day of fall camp.
Young linebackers get opportunity
With injuries mounting over the first week of fall camp at the linebacker position, young players are getting an opportunity to show what they can do.
Washington coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned Jamaal Kearse, Scott Lawyer, Cory Littleton and Evan Zeger as players who saw more snaps Friday.
“I think they embrace it,” Sarkisian said. “We talked about it last night as a team that, as one guys goes down, the reason we recruited those guys is to come here and play. I think they’re working at it. Just like a lot of young guys, you make some plays and you have some plays you’d like to have back.”
Injury report
After leaving practice on a cart Thursday, his foot wrapped in ice, linebacker Nate Fellner learned later he had broken the fifth metatarsal in his foot.
Sarkisian said there is no ligament damage, but the senior is expected to miss about four weeks.
Receiver James Johnson is day-to-day with a sprained foot and linebacker Princeton Fuimaono is dealing with a hamstring injury the Huskies are going to “monitor very closely.”
“We don’t want that thing to linger all year long,” Sarkisian said said. “We’re going to get him healthy.”
Young receivers making an impression
Freshmen receivers Jaydon Mickens (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey) and Kendyl Taylor (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) have taken turns making plays all week.
Like all freshmen, there have been struggles, but Sarkisian singled them out as players who have performed well so far.
“They’ve been impressive,” he said.
Freshmen link up for touchdown
Jeff Lindquist (Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island) rolled to his right and fired a 40-yard pass toward the end zone. The ball was underthrown, but receiver Marvin Hall (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey) made a nice adjustment.
He fought through a defensive back and hauled in the touchdown pass.
Linebacker gives up the game
Junior Garret Gilliland has decided to retire from football, Sarkisian announced.
Because it was the linebacker’s decision to leave the program, he will not retain his scholarship.
“If he retires, he retires,” Sarkisian said. “That’s his choice. We want him to play football and he doesn’t want to. It’s unfortunate.”
Quotable
When asked about the energy building throughout practice, Sarkisian said, “Our guys understand the competition as it builds and they look forward to the competition. That’s what makes our guys special to me, because they embrace those opportunities to battle and compete with one another, but do it with respect. They did that today.”
-- Offensive line coach Dan Cozzetto missed Friday’s practice. Sarkisian described it as a “personal issue.”