The big question of the week for the Huskies — would Chris Polk play — was answered early.

Polk took a handoff on the first play of the game for 4 yards and then played throughout Washington's 30-27 win over Eastern Washington.

Polk went over the 100-yard mark late in the third quarter for the 11th time in his career and finished with 125. He got 4 on a key third down on Washington's final offensive possession as the Huskies were able to hold on for a hard-fought win.

Polk had arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus injury Aug. 18 and his status for the first few games appeared in doubt. But he returned to practice Wednesday and then did more Thursday, giving hope he could play, though UW coach Steve Sarkisian played it coy and made no official announcement.

But Polk looked in midseason form as he had 59 yards on nine carries in the first half, including a 26-yarder in which — as he so often did last year — bounced off a tackler at the line of scrimmage and then sprinted down the sideline.

Jesse Callier, who was slated to start until Polk returned, had 20 yards on three carries in the first half and true freshman Bishop Sankey also saw action.

However, the news was not as good for the other Husky whose participation was in doubt all week, senior cornerback Quinton Richardson, who suffered a high-ankle sprain the first week of camp.

He suited up and went through warmups but did not play, replaced in the starting lineup by redshirt freshman Greg Ducre.

Bruns to redshirt

Receiver Cody Bruns was one of two game captains for the Huskies, along with Greg Walker. But Bruns didn't see action as part of the team's decision earlier this week to redshirt him and save his final year of eligibility for 2012.

Sarkisian said the decision was made for both personal and strategic reasons. Bruns can return in 2012 to help anchor a receiving corps that will lose Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar.

Bruns had also missed a few practices during camp to attend to matters back home in Prosser after the sudden death of his father, Bucky, in July.

Bruns said this week it was a "mutual decision" to redshirt and he thinks it will be a good one for all involved.

"We talked about it and they definitely have the best interest in me (in mind) and that's always good," he said. "And if it's going to help the team later then I'm all for it, definitely."

He said his plan now is to work on getting better, saying that "going up against (Desmond Trufant and Richardson) every day will be great."

Going back to the scout team brings back memories of early in his freshman season of 2008 when it was originally thought he might redshirt before he was called on to play in the second half of the fifth game at Arizona. The move was controversial in the eyes of many fans since UW trailed at the time 31-7 and was off to an 0-4 start with Tyrone Willingham's fate seemingly already sealed.

Bruns said he has joked that "I can only redshirt for half my senior year since I only redshirted half my freshman year."

He repeated his long-held stance, however, that he doesn't regret playing that first year, saying "everything happens for a reason and it shapes you as a person and a player. So we will grow this year and see how things go next year."

Notes

• Leading returning receiver Kearse suffered a knee injury on UW's first series and did not return. Early indications were that it was not serious.

• Sankey was one of five true freshmen to see action in the first half. The others were receiver Kasen Williams, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, linebacker John Timu and defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Safety James Sample then saw action in the second half.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com.