No decision on injured Locker

SEATTLE – Jake Locker didn’t need to be in front of reporters Monday afternoon to state the obvious.

The University of Washington senior quarterback wasn’t in his usual seat in front of a Monday press conference, but it’s clear that Locker wants to play the next time the Huskies take the field, for a Nov. 18 game against UCLA. It’s Senior Night, his final home game at UW, and the Huskies (3-6 overall, 2-4 in the Pac-10) are one loss away from being eliminated from bowl contention.

The bigger question is whether Locker will be allowed to play, and it’s one that won’t be answered for a few more days.

“This isn’t going to be an emotional decision, one that (is based on) because Jake wants to play and his heart’s in it and all that,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday of his injured starting quarterback.

Locker sat out Saturday’s loss to Oregon because of a cracked rib, an injury he initially suffered two weeks earlier but one that continued to get worse.

“We’ll assess it Saturday to see where he’s at,” said Sarkisian, who plans to hold the first game-week practice Saturday night. “If the doctors give him the clearance to play, we’ll assess how he looks as we get prepared for the ballgame.”