[bigboydan]

This injury could really hurt Washington against the Cuse.

Huskies WR Russo breaks finger, likely to miss season opener

SEATTLE (AP) -- Washington receiver Anthony Russo will likely miss the season opener at Syracuse after breaking the pinkie finger on his right hand.

The senior is set to have surgery Friday, when the Huskies begin two-a-day practices.

"It's probably going to be four weeks," Russo said Wednesday, a day after getting his finger caught in the artificial turf at Husky Stadium while trying to catch a low pass.

He said "there's a small chance" he could be back in time for the Syracuse game on Aug. 31.

Russo, was second on the team with 32 catches while starting all 12 games last season. Corey Williams, a fifth-year senior with 31 career catches, moves up the depth chart to replace Russo.

"Corey, he's going to step in and do a good job, as he always does," Russo said.

Marcel Reece, a junior-college transfer last season who had a season-high 107 yards receiving in the Apple Cup upset at Washington State in November, joins seniors Cody Ellis and Quintin Daniels at one of the Huskies' more experienced positions.

"You never can afford (to lose) any guy. But in that group, the good news is we do have a senior group there," coach Tyrone Willingham said. "So if you lose one, that's a good place to lose one."

Washington will also be without Byron Davenport, a junior transfer from UCLA expected to compete for a starting cornerback spot. Davenport pulled his left hamstring during Tuesday's practice.

Willingham said Davenport could miss two weeks.

[pags11]

thanks dan...also important to note that Syracuses' leading receiving TE quit the team yesterday and their back up running back may be out for the opener...and also starting RB Brinkley says one of his knees is about 80%...

[bigboydan]

That Syracuse team is still in shambles right now Pags. So the Huskies should win that game despite the absence of Russo.

[pags11]

they should, but I don't bet against Syracuse as a dog in the Carrier Dome...seen too many weird things happen...