Washington opens its quarterback job as Elijah Brown pushes Demond Williams Jr. before Nebraska

Washington's quarterback job is open again. After one start from Elijah Brown, coach Jedd Fisch said Monday that the Stanford transfer will be considered for the job when the Huskies play at Nebraska on Oct. 31. Demond Williams Jr., who opened the season as the starter, is working his way back from the injury he suffered against Iowa.

The two quarterbacks will split first-team snaps during the bye week, Roundtable Sports reported. Williams is practicing but has not been medically cleared to play in a game. Fisch said a decision would probably come in about a week. "He did enough to be considered," Fisch said of Brown, according to Washington Huskies On SI. The coach noted that with no game this Saturday, the staff is under no pressure to choose yet.

Brown made the most of his chance in the 38-26 win at Purdue. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns, though he also threw three interceptions. The win ended a three-game losing streak and gave Washington its first Big Ten victory. It was also the first time all season the Huskies had scored more than 24 points against an FBS opponent. A week earlier, Brown came on for Williams in the 41-24 loss to Iowa and threw three second-half touchdown passes. CBS Sports noted that he opened that half 14-of-16 and led two straight scoring drives. In three appearances this season, Brown has completed 73.9 percent of his passes for 578 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Williams has more on his résumé. Before the injury he had started 21 straight games over three seasons, and he led the Big Ten in total yards last year. He returned to Washington on a deal reportedly worth more than $4.5 million after briefly entering the transfer portal. This fall he has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,396 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions, and added 183 rushing yards and two scores. Fisch would not call it a competition, falling back on the staff's line that every position is open. He did praise Williams, a team captain, for supporting Brown from the sideline.

What it means for Nebraska

Washington goes into the off week at 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten. Its conference losses were close at times: 27-24 to Minnesota and 25-21 at No. 18 USC, followed by the lopsided home loss to No. 20 Iowa. The offense has relied almost entirely on the pass. CBS Sports noted before the Purdue game that the Huskies were averaging about 90 rushing yards per game, which ranked near the bottom of the FBS. That makes the quarterback choice the biggest decision of the second half of the season.

If Williams is cleared, Fisch has to weigh a proven starter whose season has been uneven against a backup who has moved the offense well for six quarters but has also turned the ball over. The trip to Lincoln is Washington's second straight road game. Kickoff is 5 p.m. PT on BTN, and a second conference win would help keep the Huskies on track for bowl eligibility. Season results and schedule are on our Washington team page.