In a development that has Washington Huskies fans holding their breath, head coach Jedd Fisch has confirmed that a decision on running back Jordan Washington's injury status won't come until late July. The redshirt sophomore suffered a serious neck injury during spring camp that has kept him in a neck brace and sidelined for all subsequent practices.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound California native—a four-star recruit from Long Beach Jordan High School—was immediately responsive after the injury occurred during UW's second week of spring practice and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. While he attended the Dawgs After Dark spring game in street clothes with his neck brace still on, Fisch remains cautiously optimistic.
"No update. Everything is on schedule that somewhere in probably around July 1, we'll make a decision," Fisch stated after Friday's spring game. "Not we as in me. But we, as in the medical staff, the physicians—both in this building and outside consultants—will make a decision on what his return to play protocol looks like. Right now, the key is for him to do what he's doing, and he's doing it well."
The timing couldn't be more critical for a Huskies running back room that entered spring camp with only two scholarship backs—Washington and redshirt freshman Quaid Carr—who had taken snaps in 2025. Veteran transfers Trey Cooley and Jayden Limar were already ruled out for spring activities, leaving the younger players to carry the load with a simplified playbook.
Washington showed flashes of his explosive potential last season, appearing in 10 games behind starter Jonah Coleman and backup Adam Mohammed. His breakout moment came against Purdue in early November, when he ripped off a 108-yard performance including a spectacular 68-yard touchdown run in the Huskies' 49-13 victory.
If medical consultants determine that Washington won't be ready before mid-October, a medical redshirt for the 2026 season could be the most prudent path forward. This would allow the speedy back a full year to recover while preserving his eligibility—especially valuable given that Cooley and Limar each have only one season of eligibility remaining.
However, with both senior backs also recovering from their own injuries, and true freshman Brian Bonner and Carr yet to start a college game, the Huskies' running back depth chart is anything but settled. Every available body will be needed when Saturdays roll around, making Washington's eventual return a storyline worth watching all summer long.