As a result of his 29-carry, 220-yard performance in the rain at Berkeley on Saturday night, RB Chauncey Washington was awarded Pac-10 player of the week honors. The senior back said he’d received advice from athletic director Mike Garrett who told him to be more patient in finding and hitting holes in the O-Line. Pete Carroll told reporters that Chauncey’s a future NFL player without a doubt and that he’s certain Washington is improving his NFL stock with his recent play: “These guys like him. They always look for guys who have some stature to them and Chauncey could easily play at 220 pounds.” Read on for some injury updates from Monday.

• LB Keith Rivers is a question mark for the Arizona State game after aggravating the high ankle sprain he suffered earlier in the season while covering a third-quarter punt at Cal. He also sustained a lower sprain on the same ankle. Characteristically tough and probably overly-optimistic, though acknowledging this injury is a “little worse” than the earlier sprain, Rivers told reporters he’s be ready for the Thanksgiving game: “I’ll be there, ready to go…It’s my senior year, I’ve been playing a little banged up and it’s not going to stop me now.” Rivers is currently wearing a protective boot and is not cleared to play, but says he wants to practice Wednesday.
• LB Clay Matthews broke a bone in his hand during the Cal game and wore a cast Monday. It’s the same hand he broke earlier in the season. Matthews also predicted he’d play against Arizona State, adding that if USC were to play this week, he’d be ready.
• QB John David Booty was held out of most drills Monday, but said that his broken middle finger finally feels normal: “My finger doesn’t bother me at all…It did a little bit against Oregon State,” the senior told Scott Wolf.
• LT Sam Baker is expected to play against Arizona State, which means that most of the team (those that aren’t out for the season or redshirtting) should be available for the final 2-game BCS push. Carroll said that the coaching staff is not treating this as the typical hard-hitting bye week because the team doesn’t have the traditional two weeks off between games.

Insider: Chauncey benefits from history lesson (Rivals, $)
Schedule break could be just what injured players need (LA Times)
Drops stop for USC freshman running back McKnight (LA Daily News)
Washington named Pac-10 player of week (Orange County Register)