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Washington star running back Chris Polk could be out for a couple of weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on Thursday morning to clean up the meniscus in his knee.
Washington coach Steve Sarkisian made the announcement after practice Thursday evening. Polk was walking around at practice without needing crutches.
Sarkisian didn't rule out Polk possibly playing in the Huskies season opener on Sept. 3 at home against defending FCS national champion Eastern Washington, but said this was the best time to have the procedure done.
''We don't know. It depends on his body and how he recovers,'' Sarkisian said. ''But I think for the long haul of this thing it was the right thing to do.''
Sarkisian didn't specify which knee or the extent of the procedure done on Polk. He injured the knee during practice on Wednesday.
The junior is coming off the second best rushing season in Washington history after rumbling for 1,415 yards and nine touchdowns, with his best performances coming at the end of the season. Polk ran for 284 yards and two touchdowns in an Apple Cup victory over Washington State, then bullied his way for 177 yards on 34 carries in the Huskies' Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska.
Sophomore Jesse Callier will likely get the bulk of the carries in the Huskies backfield while Polk is out. After the opener, the Huskies host Hawaii, then travel to Nebraska on Sept. 17 before opening Pac-12 play at home on Sept. 24 against California.
''It's not serious but I just didn't want it to linger and I thought the doctors handled it really well, and let's just do it now so we are not dealing with this thing come October, November,'' Sarkisian said. ''It potentially could be a couple of weeks but I think he already feels good about it.''
