Edefuan Ulofoshio is back at practice, nearing a return for Washington
Edefuan Ulofoshio practiced in pads on Monday.
That sound you hear is cheering coming from Seattle.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound all-conference linebacker missed UW’s first eight games because of an injury suffered during winter workouts. Washington coach Kalen DeBoer told reporters on Monday he considers Ulofoshio to be week-to-week as they try and reintroduce him into the defense.
“You hear that (he’s practicing) and you’re like, ‘Oh, he’s going to be ready to go.’ This is the first time he’s really moved around with football movements. So I would put him as week-to-week,” DeBoer said. “There’s got to be confidence that’s built up. There’s also just the physical piece, as far as him getting used to that. These guys have been training all year long at a high intensity level. He’s done that as well in the areas he could since the injury happened, but it was good to see him out there, that’s for sure.”
The bye week the Huskies are coming off of certainly helped things on the injury front.
DeBoer said Monday that Washington might have had more players on the practice field than they’ve had at any other point since he took over. The starting secondary is intact coming out of the bye week.
Mishael Powell and Jordan Perryman at corner, Dom Hampton at the Husky spot, Asa Turner and Alex Cook at safety; everyone’s rolling. DeBoer said he has “no concerns” about Powell’s health after missing four games.
A secondary regaining its health… A defensive front that has helped power UW up toward the top of the Pac-12 leaderboard for sacks… And now an All-Pac-12 linebacker nearing a return… Things are shaping up for Washington’s defense.
The situation will require a bit more patience though as Ulofoshio nears the finish line of his recovery. DeBoer stressed he’s not taking every rep in practice. They’re starting him in 7-on-7 stuff where the contact piece of it is lighter.
“There may be, as it goes along, a couple ways we can use him and try to get him out there for a few snaps (against Oregon State), but I would hope the next week against Oregon is when you would for sure see him.”
That would make for quite the scene.
DeBoer is certainly excited to see him turn it loose.
“You can tell, with the way he moves and his body type and his size, there’s a confidence that certain guys move with that he certainly has,” DeBoer said. “Having him out there is great for his psyche but also our team’s, taking a couple reps out there. But I’m sure it will take a little while to knock the rust off, too.”
Washington (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) hosts No. 24 Oregon State (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) Friday at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Next week’s matchup with No. 8 Oregon at Autzen Stadium doesn’t yet have a kickoff time set.