Report: Washington WR Jalen McMillan expected to play vs. Stanford, Germie Bernard a game-time decision

There was optimism that Washington receiver Jalen McMillan would be able to play for the Huskies on Oct. 14 against Oregon. However, he ended up missing that game, as well as Washington’s matchup last weekend against Arizona State. Now, after being out since Sept. 16, it appears that McMillan is finally returning to the field.

Pete Thamel reported Saturday morning that McMillan traveled with the Washington team and is expected to play on Saturday against Stanford. Thamel added that fellow Washington receiver Germie Bernard traveled with the team and is a game-time decision.

The return of McMillan is big for a Washington offense that struggled last weekend against Arizona State. No one had been able to slow down the Huskies, before Arizona State limited them to only 15 points. Washington still won the game 15-7, but it was an ugly victory.

McMillan should be a top option for star quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who leads the nation in passing. Prior to going down with an injury, McMillan caught 20 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns over three games. Last season, the California native had over 1,000 receiving yards and eight scores.

As for Bernard, he stepped up when McMillan went out, prior to getting banged up himself. Bernard has 17 catches for 231 yards through five games this season.

Kalen DeBoer has no long-term concerns for Washington offense

The Washington offense had a surprisingly poor performance last weekend against Arizona State. However, head coach Kalen DeBoer has no long-term concerns after the game. DeBoer expects the Huskies to get back on track this weekend against Stanford. Of course, having McMillan back will help.

“No, I mean there’s more ways and answers we have and things that we’ve already done this year,” DeBoer said. “There’s a chess match within the game, that takes place certainly, but we have those answers I think built into what we do. A lot of it is just when people are doing something they’re giving up something else and we just gotta make them pay much like we’ve done for a year and a half now.”

The Huskies hadn’t scored less than 20 points in a game since the 2021 season prior to DeBoer’s arrival, boasting one of the nation’s top offenses last season and so far this year, also poised to lead the nation in passing for a second straight season.

Washington is typically proficient at beating teams in the ‘chess match’, but when things don’t go an offense’s way schematically and the execution on the field isn’t quite there the results are typically disappointing.

“And then just unfortunately some of those opportunities were missed and whether it’s just locking in or just sometimes it’s one guy. You hear about this guy just missed a block barley, or this play we just missed that throw, or this catch and that’s really what it comes down to and all of a sudden you get into a rhythm, you’re on the field longer and you’re churning first downs and ending up in the end zone,” DeBoer explained. “So it’s a couple small things that we just missed on that would have probably gotten us in the rhythm and off you’re going. Plays build on plays.”