Herring, meanwhile, said he’s had no limitations in practice this week and all signs point to him playing for the first time in nine weeks.

“I feel great,” he said.

“We’re all expecting him to play,” UW defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said.

Having Herring, listed at 6-foot-3 and 283 pounds, in the rotation reinforces the run defense whether he plays nose guard or end.

“He brings a big body,” Aranda said. “He can move when we’re slanting, so our base attack doesn’t change. I think we’re just that much better when someone wants to try and run in between the tackles. It’s a huge improvement for us.”

The challenge for Watt, listed at 6-2 and 236, is layered once he gets on the field. He wants to run and cut, but he also wants to be careful. He wants to be aggressive when he’s on the field, but he also wants to be patient.

“It’s going to hurt a little bit,” Watt said. “I’ve got to distinguish between soreness and the bone.

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“I’ve never had anything like this, so it’s tough to distinguish. Patience is kind of the key. The last thing I want to do is re-break it.”