Arcega-Whiteside’s injury slows offense

SEATTLE — Stanford wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside had to be helped off the field Saturday night after an apparent injury to his right knee in the second quarter at Husky Stadium.

He didn’t return, a severe blow to the Cardinal offense in a 27-23 loss to Washington. There was no immediate word on the severity of his injury.

Arcega-Whiteside had just caught a pass for 11 yards when he was hit by Huskies cornerback Byron Murphy. It was Arcega-Whiteside’s only reception of the night.

Earlier in the second quarter Arcega-Whiteside drew a pass interference call against Keith Taylor. It was the 14th penalty the 6-foot-3, 225-pound receiver has drawn this season — 12 pass interference and two holding calls for 190 penalty yards.

Earlier in the week, head coach David Shaw said some of the penalties were good plays by the defense. “They prevented touchdowns,” he said. First-down drought: It took Stanford 18½ minutes to collect a first down. It came on a K.J. Costello pass to Trent Irwin for 12 yards in the second quarter. A 15-yard targeting penalty was called on Huskies safety Jojo McIntosh, who was ejected for his helmet-first hit to Irwin’s midsection.

The Cardinal would have had a first down late in the first quarter. But a completion to tight end Kaden Smith for an apparent first down was nullified by a holding penalty against center Jesse Burkett. Wedington back: Stanford wide receiver Connor Wedington made his first appearance since the opener. Back from an undisclosed injury, the Washington native caught a pass for 6 yards in the second quarter.

Herbig out again: Starting right guard Nate Herbig is still out with what’s believed to be a shoulder injury. It was the third straight game that Herbig, one of the team’s best offensive linemen, has missed.

Order of bowls: Stanford is still not bowl-eligible with three games to go. If it finishes 7-5 or 6-6, it will go to one of the Pac-12’s lesser bowl games.

After the Rose, Alamo and Holiday bowls, the remaining bowls in the pecking order are Redbox in Santa Clara, Sun in El Paso, Las Vegas, and CheezIt in Phoenix.

Briefly: Backup Colin Riccitelli handled the placekicks for Stanford because Jet Toner has an undisclosed injury or ailment. … Freshman defensive lineman Thomas Booker had his first start in place of Jovan Swann. He shared a sack with Casey Toohill in the first half. … Swann was called for a hands-to-the-face penalty on the Huskies’ first touchdown drive.