Locker joins UW’s practice in limited form

Washington quarterback Jake Locker is taking small steps in his return from a neck injury, but it may not be for Saturday’s game against California.

Locker attended practice Wednesday, although he was not in pads. He wore his jersey and sweats and threw about a dozen passes early in practice. He still appeared stiff as he tries to recover from a helmet-to-helmet tackle last Saturday against Oregon State that caused Locker to be taken off the field on a stretcher as a precaution.

Coach Tyrone Willingham, when asked before practice about Locker’s status for the game, said, “I won’t even attempt to go there.”

He added that Locker’s progress “may mean more rehab or it may mean he involves himself in some way to slowly work his way back in.”

Wednesday’s game

Miami (Ohio) 7, Akron 0: At Oxford, Ohio, defensive end Craig Mester recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter and ran 7 yards for a touchdown to give the RedHawks (6-5, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) a win over the Zips (4-7, 3-4).