SEATTLE -- Just as Washington's maligned defense was showing a backbone, the Huskies are starting to get saddled with injuries.
Hau'oli Jamora, Washington's best defensive end, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee last Saturday in the Huskies' 31-23 win over California. The school announced Monday he'll be out for the year but the Huskies feel Jamora is likely to be granted a medical redshirt for the injury.
Starting outside linebacker John Timu suffered a scary injury Saturday when he was inadvertently kneed in the back of the helmet. Timu was immobilized and taken off the field in an ambulance.
Coach Steve Sarkisian said Timu has no structural or neurological damage, but is extremely sore.
Sarkisian compared Timu's injury to whiplash from a car accident, but didn't know if he'd be available to play on Saturday when the Huskies make their first trip ever to Salt Lake City to face Utah.
The defensive line is in flux. Senior Everrette Thompson will be moved from tackle to defensive end. Redshirt freshman Josh Shirley has been elevated as the starter at the other end. Sophomore Sione Potoa'e will be a starter at tackle.
The upshot is Washington is moving players to positions they are familiar with. Thompson has played end and tackle during his career. Potoa'e started at tackle last week versus Cal. Backup end Talia Crichton moves back to the right side, where he played earlier in his career.
Safety Nate Fellner is expected to be available this weekend, too. He's missed the last two games.
But while there are injury worries, the Huskies are off to a 3-1 start for the first time in five seasons and quarterback Keith Price continues to impress. His 14 touchdown passes are tied for the national lead with Bowling Green's Matt Schilz.
The most vital lineup change prior to the season was at starting quarterback. Price's 67 percent completion rate in four games would seem to make it easy for people to forget about former quarterback Jake Locker. But Price said he still gets asked every day about Locker, who was the eighth overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
Price and Locker still talk via text message, usually getting in touch after every game even with Locker now playing in Tennessee.
It's not just Locker and the locals who have noticed Price's play. He's starting to gain more national recognition. Though he said he hasn't noticed.
"I'm not worried about it," Price said. "We've still got (Chris Polk) behind me. They're not going to take people out of the box."
It may be time for teams to start shifting their focus, which would suit Washington fine. Price proving himself early could allow openings for Polk during the rest of the season.
"In time, somebody one of these days is going to say let's stop Keith Price," Sarkisian said. "Hopefully that's when Chris Polk can really open up.
"Until then, people are going to keep focusing on making sure we stop (Polk) then (Price) and the weapons he's got around him can make some plays."
