Penn State coach Jamesย Franklinย gave no update on the status of receiver Parkerย Washingtonย in his postgame press conference after the teamโs 55-10ย winย over Rutgers Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Washington, who leads Penn State in receptions (46), yards (611) and yards per catch (13.3), didnโt travel to Rutgers. It was the first game he missed in his college career. He also wasnโt seen at practice the previous Wednesday in the mediaโs weekly viewing window.
Franklin told reporters he needed to speak with Washington. He wants to make sure everybody is on the same page before giving further information. That information could be revealed Tuesday in Franklinโs weekly press conference.
“I will have to wait until Tuesday to talk to you about Parker,” Franklin said. “I want to make sure I’m clar with what’s going on. I have not talked to Parker, so I’d like to be able to do that first, and then I’ll make sure I answer your question Tuesday.”
Franklin doesnโt normally announce injuries unless theyโre season-ending.
Washington has been a big part of Penn Stateโs offense since beginning his college football career in 2020. Heโs 12th on the schoolโs all-time receiving list and is 69 yards from passing O.J. McDuffie and moving into 11th. But he might not end up getting there. Penn State has just one regular-season game left, plus its bowl game, so Washington could well be out for the rest of the season if the injury is serious enough. Although Washington has additional eligibility, thereโs a chance he will declare for the NFL Draft.
Even if Washington never plays another game at Penn State, his career will go down as a success.
After Jahan Dotsonโs departure, Washington stepped in as Penn Stateโs No. 1 receiver, as Franklin expected him to.
โI donโt think there was any question of that based on what he had done last year and the year before,โ Franklinย toldย reporters at his weekly Tuesday press conference Nov. 1. โHe was coming into the season, and he was the most established wideout we had at Penn State on our roster. Mitch (Tinsley) had done some good things in his career but not yet at Penn State.โ
If Washington is out, Tinsley will be Penn Stateโs No. 1. KeAndre Lambert-Smith will be the No. 2, and Harrison โTreyโ Wallace the third starter.
