Washington arrives at Purdue on a three-game skid with its quarterback situation unsettled

Washington heads to West Lafayette for Friday night's game against Purdue without knowing who will start at quarterback. Starter Demond Williams was hurt late in the second quarter of last week's 41-16 home loss to Iowa, and Jedd Fisch's staff has not said whether he will be available.

The Huskies are 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten. They have lost three in a row: 27-24 to Minnesota, 25-21 at USC and then the blowout against the Hawkeyes. In an opponent preview from On3's GoldandBlack.com, Tom Dienhart talked with Washington broadcaster Elise Woodward, and her read was that the drop-off from Williams to his backup may not be as steep as the depth chart suggests.

Elijah Brown replaced Williams against Iowa and went 28 of 39 for 251 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Brown made four starts at Stanford last season, and Woodward told GoldandBlack.com that the Huskies feel good about him. She also said that a healthy Williams would force a real decision, because he has struggled and the offense has not moved the ball consistently through six games. Woodward added that Washington is still looking for a running game and an offensive line combination that works.

The defense has carried the Huskies for most of the season. Woodward described it as reliable and strong against the run. Safety Alex McLaughlin, a captain, leads the team in sacks and in most tackling categories. Iowa was the exception. Washington blew coverages against the Hawkeyes' tight ends, and it was the first time since defensive coordinator Ryan Walters arrived that his unit gave up more than 30 points. Woodward said the group is fairly healthy, though it played Iowa without one cornerback.

Walters also gives the week a storyline of its own, since he is returning to West Lafayette. Woodward expects his players to play hard for him in that setting. "I expect them to come out extremely irritated and with something to prove at Purdue," she told GoldandBlack.com. She also noted that the roster is young and that Friday is Washington's last game before its bye.

Purdue comes in with momentum. The Boilermakers are 3-3 and 2-1 in conference play after handling Minnesota last weekend. Barry Odom's team can climb into the upper half of the league standings with a win. Washington needs a win to stop the slide and keep its season from slipping further before the off week.

Purdue is favored at -160 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, and FanDuel has the best sportsbook price on the Boilermakers at -162. The spread is Purdue -3.5 and the total is 51.5. That is a close number for a team that has lost three straight, and it reflects both Washington's defensive track record and the uncertainty at quarterback. Prices for the game are tracked on the Washington at Purdue odds page.

Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET Friday, Oct. 16, on Fox.