UW Huskies’ Azeem Victor, Austin Joyner suspended for Friday’s opener
Aug 28, 2017, 12:53 PM
Azeem Victor's return from last season's leg injury will have to wait one more week. (AP)
(AP)
The Washington Huskies will be without two key players in their season opener Friday at Rutgers.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Austin Joyner has been suspended for the first two games of the season and senior linebacker Azeem Victor has been levied with a one-game suspension, head coach Chris Petersen said at his weekly press conference Monday. Both penalties are for violations of team rules.
Huard: Why 2017 Huskies are like the 2013 Seahawks
When Victor does make his season debut, it will be his first in-game action since suffering a broken leg last November against USC that ended his season. At the time he was fifth in the Pac-12 in tackles per game, and he was just a few weeks removed from winning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. He is the fourth-ranked inside linebacker for next year’s NFL Draft, according to CBS Sports.
Joyner, a Marysville-Pilchuck alum who won named Washington state’s high school player of the year by both USA Today and Gatorade in 2014, played in 12 of UW’s 14 games last season.
Victor will be eligible to return for the home opener Sept. 9 vs Montana, while Joyner can make his season debut the next week at home against Fresno State.
The Huskies’ season begins at 5 p.m. Friday against the Scarlet Knights in New Jersey.
