By MOLLY YANITY
Jake Locker wore a helmet and shoulder pads at practice Thursday for the first time since straining his neck and suffering a stinger in Saturday's loss at Oregon State. The Huskies quarterback participated in warm-up drills during the first 25 minutes of practice but looked stiff delivering throws. Coach Tyrone Willingham was not definitive on Locker's status, but said the determining factor would be whether Locker can protect himself. "I like what he has done so far, and we'll see how it goes because I won't rule out anything between now and Saturday," Willingham said. "I'd like to see him to be able to protect himself. He's getting better. He came out on Wednesday with a little difficulty opening up. That's normal. With each day, he's gotten a lot better. There's a lot more movement in (his neck) -- you can see that." If Locker doesn't start, fifth-year senior Carl Bonnell will get the call -- a scenario not unfamiliar to the Huskies. Seven games into the 2006 season, the Huskies lost quarterback Isaiah Stanback to a season-ending foot injury. Bonnell finished the season and his first start was against California, the Huskies' opponent Saturday. The Huskies lost 31-24 in overtime in Berkeley, with Bonnell throwing five interceptions. "It was a heck of a game," Bonnell said. "We did some good things, but we did a lot of bad things. If we right those bad things, I think we have a very good shot of winning."
Bonnell went 17 of 31 for 284 yards and a touchdown in that game. He also rushed for a touchdown. Willingham said Bonnell's experience will soothe a team without its leader -- Locker. "It's a lot more comforting to the coaches to start with, and then that also makes it a lot more comforting to the players because you've been around the guy, you feel like you can depend on him," Willingham said. "You can count on him for certain things. You know how his reaction will be under duress. That makes a lot of difference."
OTHER INJURIES: Safety Nate Williams, who missed the Oregon State game because of a hamstring strain, has practiced at full strength this week and will play.
Receiver Quintin Daniels (knee) returned to practice this week after missing the past four games. Daniels suffered a back spasm Wednesday, but was back at practice Thursday and is probable.
Linebacker Donald Butler (knee) will miss his fourth consecutive game. Trenton Tuiasosopo again will start.
EXTRA POINTS: Willingham said Jordan White-Frisbee will start at left guard for Ryan Tolar, who must sit out the first half after being ejected from the game at Oregon State. ... New Huskies commit Luther Leonard of Evergreen High attended practice and was greeted warmly by recruiting coordinator/linebackers coach Chris Tormey.
HUSKIES VS. CAL
WHAT: Washington (3-7, 1-6) vs. California (6-4, 3-4 Pac-10)
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Husky Stadium
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS: The Bears won their first five games, including victories over Tennessee and Oregon, climbing to No. 2 in the nation. But Cal has lost four of its past five, averaging 21.2 points over that span. Quarterback Nate Longshore has battled injury and thrown for 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Tailback Justin Forsett is second in the Pac-10 with 116.9 yards per game and a conference-leading 13 rushing touchdowns. Receiver DeSean Johnson is a threat and could prove especially dangerous on returns, which the Huskies have struggled to defend.
O'DEA CONNECTIONS: Cal's top tackler (95) is linebacker Anthony Felder, a former star at O'Dea High School. Felder has two sacks, an interception and has forced a fumble. "He's been a guy to make a lot of plays for us on the defensive side of the ball and somebody we count on," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. O'Dea product Brandon Jones, a cornerback, has yet to crack the depth chart.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The Bears have dominated the past five years despite Washington holding a 46-37-4 series edge. In 2002, Kyle Boller threw for 266 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. The next season, receiver Geoff McArthur had 180 yards as Cal racked up a school-record 729 total yards. In 2003, J.J. Arrington rushed for 121 yards. Two years ago, Robert Jordan had 192 receiving yards and three touchdowns as
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