San Diego State running back Juwan Washington is expected to be out six weeks with a fractured clavicle (collarbone) suffered in Saturday night’s win over Eastern Michigan, a team official said Monday night.

SDSU head coach Rocky Long was not available for comment Monday night. Long’s weekly news conference is midday Tuesday, at which time he could provide more details on the injury and what it means to the Aztecs going forward.

Long had been more encouraged with initial reports after Saturday’s game, saying: “The doctors seem really positive that he’s going to be OK.” He added Sunday: “There’s something under the clavicle that he strained. They said he was in a lot of pain. Of course, they X-rayed it three different ways and couldn’t see a thing.”

Further testing, believed to be an MRI, revealed the fracture.


Washington was injured in the second quarter of SDSU’s 23-20 overtime win at SDCCU Stadium. He carried for 3- and 2-yard gains before being replaced by sophomore Chase Jasmin during an eight-play drive that ended with an interception.

Washington had 12 carries for 61 yards in the first half against the Eagles, but stood on the SDSU sidelines wearing a sling the final two quarters. He came into the game as the nation’s fourth-leading rusher with 150.7 yards a game. Washington has rushed 99 times for 513 yards (5.2 ypc) and five touchdowns in four games this season.

The injury ends any further discussion of Washington joining D.J. Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny as SDSU’s third straight 2,000-yard running back, for this season anyway. Washington is a junior who has said he definitely will be returning for his senior year.

SDSU has a bye this week before opening Mountain West play Oct. 6 at Boise State. If Washington misses five games over the next six weeks, then his expected return would be for SDSU’s final three regular season games — at home against UNLV (Nov. 10), at Fresno State (Nov. 17) and at home against Hawaii (Nov. 24).


In Washington’s absence, Jasmin moves into the starting spot at running back. Jasmin also could be returning kickoffs for the Aztecs, a role he and teammate Fred Trevillion shared last week when Washington’s workload was reduced following a turf toe injury suffered two weeks ago against Arizona State.

Jasmin had a breakout game against ASU, rushing for most of his career-high 112 yards — including a 3-yard touchdown — in the second half after Washington was sidelined. Jasmin nearly reached triple figures against Eastern Michigan as well, finishing with 16 carries for 94 yards. He has rushed 43 times this season for 213 yards (5.4 ypc) and one touchdown.

SDSU’s run-dominant offense requires two running backs, with the starter typically getting 25 carries a game and the backup averaging 10 rushes. With Jasmin moving into the starting role, a new backup will need to be identified.

Quarterback Ryan Agnew, who became the starter when Christian Chapman (knee sprain) was injured two weeks ago, is actually SDSU’s third-leading rusher with 75 yards on 20 carries.


Next in line on the depth chart at running back are redshirt freshmen Kaegun Williams and Chance Bell and true freshman Jordan Byrd.

Williams had a 1-yard gain against Eastern Michigan in his first — and only — carry of the season and is the most logical candidate to move in behind Jasmin. Byrd is the only other running with a carry this season, the Aztecs using his blazing speed on a fly sweep that went for eight yards against ASU.

SDSU had more positive news regarding three other injured players.

Fullback Isaac Lessard (neck) is expected to be healthy in time for the Boise State game. Defensive tackle Noble Hall Jr. (dislocated wrist), who has been sidelined the past two games, and wide receiver Tim Wilson Jr. (back), who missed the Eastern Michigan game, both returned to practice Monday.


Long has said he does not expect Chapman to be healthy in time to return for the Boise State game.


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kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com / on Twitter: @sdutkirKDKenney