Washington Huskies Football: Kasen Williams Likely Out For Season

Aug 31, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Kasen Williams (2) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Boise State Broncos during the 2nd half at Husky Stadium. Washington defeated Boise State 38-6. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The win over Cal may have been decisive, and the offensive production prodigious, but one huge negative emerged from the contest: Kasen Williams suffered a break and a dislocation in his foot during the second quarter and is likely out for the season.

The junior wide receiver from Sammamish led the team in receiving last season with 77 receptions for 878 yards and six touchdowns. If this sort of injury had occurred halfway through the 2012 season, the result would likely have been a total breakdown in the passing game. Austin Seferian-Jenkins would have been the only major target for Keith Price. Today that is not the case. A year later the team is running a faster, no-huddle attack featuring a deep pool of productive receivers. Kasen caught 29 balls for 421 yards and a score before the injury, a solid but unspectacular start that has him third on the team in catches and yards.

Jaydon Mickens, largely due to his huge 180-yard performance last night, is leading the team in catches and yards with 45 for 542 and four touchdown receptions, tied for the team lead. Before last night Kevin Smith was Price’s number-one target, and his stat line, 30 catches for 504 yards and three scores, still has him on track to approach the 1,000 yard mark.

Kasen was still listed at number one on the depth chart, and he was still the player likely to receive the most attention from an opposing defense. However, because he was not producing as a clear-cut number one, his loss is more of an unfortunate loss and less of a crippling body slam. Keith Price should still function fine throwing to Smith, Mickens, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and John Ross. He will simply have to keep in mind that without Williams, there is no wide receiver to go up and get tough jump-balls in traffic. The passing game will be a bit more centered on the speed of Mickens and Ross combined with the jack-of-all trades presence of Smith.