Dad says UW QB will play

SEATTLE – The father of the most popular man in Montlake gave a prognosis Saturday that is sure to make Husky fans happy.

“I have little doubt that he’ll be on the field at Oregon,” said Scott Locker, the father of Washington quarterback Jake Locker.

After meeting with the school’s athletic trainers to discuss the MRI results of his son’s hamstring injury, Scott Locker updated reporters on Jake’s status while attending Washington’s picture day at Husky Stadium.

“They said just a minor strain on the outside of his leg there,” Scott Locker said. “They can’t really give me a time frame because it depends on how it heals, but they said they didn’t think it would be too long.”

Scott Locker had earlier said during an interview on KJR that the injury was a slight tear. He said it was explained to him by football trainer Rob Scheidegger that the terminology is interchangeable.

“He said you can use them all interchangeably,” said Locker, who indicated that his son could be back at practice as early as next week. “Strain, sprain, tear.”

Jake Locker has been limping noticeably around campus, but Scott Locker said some of that has to do with how tightly trainers have the leg wrapped.

“He said it’s not all that painful, but they’ve got him pretty wrapped up,” he said. “I saw him this morning and it looked like he was limping pretty good, but they’ve got him wrapped so tight. They want to keep it immobilized.”

Scott Woodward, UW’s acting athletic director, was also at picture day. He said he was optimistic about Locker’s prognosis.

“He’s going to play in the Oregon game,” Woodward said. “He’s got the best medical staff in America, the best trainers in America. He’ll be good to go for the Oregon game.”

Prior to the start of picture day festivities, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham was less informative about his quarterback’s injury. When asked about the MRI results, Willingham said that they were available but that he had not seen them.

“I don’t have them,” he said. “He’ll be well when he’s well. We’ll be ready to roll. I’m sorry, I don’t have the results of it.”

Willingham was then asked if knowing MRI results of an injury to his starting quarterback made any difference to him.

“No, it always makes a difference,” he said. “Our medical staff will manage that. They know. I haven’t looked at it. I haven’t asked them about it.”