Through each of the Washington Huskies' first seven practices of fall camp, Landen Hatchett has had to watch from the sidelines as he continues to recover from a broken wrist, and the senior center is itching to return to action. "It's super hard, and obviously, that's why you come here to play football for, you know, to actually play football, and to make it very clear if there's one thing that's been on my mind, day after day, it's how fast I could get back and be out there with the guys," Hatchett said on Friday. " "So, it's frustrating, but you truly have to take it day by day, and good things are coming from it." For Hatchett, who suffered his injury in Washington's 42-25 win over then-No. 23 Illinois in late October, the recovery process has been slow, but he's continued to try and take things one day at a time as he eyes a return ahead of the Huskies' season opener against Washington State.
"I have a rough timeline, but I don't really want to put it out there," Hatchett said. "The scaphoid's kind of one of those things that, you know, it starts to heal, um, but it kind of, each person is a little different. So, I have an idea of where I want to be. Um, what I'm hoping for, but, uh, you know, I'm just gonna really take it day by day." In the meantime, Hatchett has been going through workouts with strength coach Lance Ancar on the side and feels like he's in game shape as he awaits clearance to strike, which sounds like it could be one of the final steps in his return to action. "I'm full flex, full (independent workout), full go for any walkthrough," Hatchett added. "So I'll sneak in when I can here and there for team periods...We get on the 1080 (motion sprint trainer), different sets, play drive progressions, making sure my legs are staying kept up, and then any type of striking, working back into that. So just making sure my legs stay under me and they're ready for when I can get back out there." With Hatchett back in the fold, the Huskies will return three full-time starters to their offensive line in 2026, while his older brother Geirean, who is expected to play a role in the rotation behind sophomore Champ Taulealea, the projected starter at right guard, gives the Huskies a fourth returning starter from 2025. This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington football center shares update in recovery from wrist injury