Monday notes and thoughts: Season-ending injuries sideline two Huskies
Matteo Mele and Davon Banks won't play again this year. What does it mean for Washington?
SEATTLE — Football can be a cruel game, can’t it?
Every injury is unfortunate. Any significant recovery is grueling in its own way. But Washington’s 2023 list of season-enders seems to exclusively include players whose careers were just about to turn a corner.
First, there was fifth-year junior Cam Davis, primed to take over the starting tailback role for the first time. He battled injuries the past two seasons, but still became a key contributor in 2022. He said in August that he felt great. Coaches made clear he was their top running back. But Davis sustained a lower-body injury in UW’s final camp scrimmage, and he’s lost for the year.
The same week, Gaard Memmelaar, a fourth-year sophomore offensive lineman competing for a spot on the depth chart at guard, also suffered a season-ending, lower-body injury.
Coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed Monday that two more players just beginning to contribute more than they ever had — starting center Matteo Mele and reserve cornerback Davon Banks — will miss the season due to upper-body injuries sustained against Tulsa two weeks ago.