QB Masoli returns to practice

EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was back at practice, his knee feeling better after a bye week break.

Masoli injured his right knee in Oregon's 52-6 victory over Washington State on Oct. 3. He did not dress for the Ducks' 24-10 victory at UCLA the next week and Nate Costa started in his place.

Masoli was still officially day-to-day, but he wore full pads in practice after wearing only shells last week. The No. 12 Ducks (5-1, 3-0 Pac-10) visit Washington (3-4, 2-2) on Saturday.

"I'm still waiting on some things to look at but it feels better this week than last week for sure," he said.

Costa, who had missed the past two seasons because of knee injuries, made his first career start against the Bruins and went 9-of-17 for four yards with a touchdown. He ended up with minus-18 yards rushing.

Costa was preparing to start, even though it looked less likely that he would as the week went on.

"I'm just going to go out there and prepare the best I can. Prepare like I'm the starter and watch a lot of tape and take my reps at full intensity and just prepare myself like I'm going to be out there on Saturday," he said.

Masoli, a more mobile quarterback, was just coming into his own when he was injured. In victories over California and Washington State, Masoli completed 35 of 43 passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown over the span.

In practice on Wednesday, Masoli wore a special custom brace that he said he would need to wear during games.

Washington first-year coach Steve Sarkisian said the Huskies would be prepared for either quarterback.

RICK REMINISCES: UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel vividly remembers the heated rivalry between Oregon and Washington from his time as head coach of the Huskies.

"It's an open wound, I'll tell you that," he said. "It's a different game."

The rivalry reached a peak -- at least for Oregon fans -- when Kenny Wheaton made "The Pick" in 1994 and the Ducks won 31-20.

Another peak came in 2002 when Washington defeated Oregon 42-14 in Eugene and brazenly danced on the midfield "O" at Autzen Stadium.

But Oregon has won the last five straight in the series.

"The rivalry hasn't been as heated in my four years because they haven't been as good but they're looking like a pretty good team and it's looking like the rivalry might heat back up," free safety T.J. Ward said. "They have a lot of good players and good coaches. It's going to be a big game. I'm expecting a dog fight up there."

Ward has been out with an ankle injury since the season-opening loss to Boise State but expects to return Saturday.

EXTRA POINTS: Washington leads the series against Oregon 58-38-5. ... The Huskies are 3-1 at home. ... Oregon has scored five times without its offense on the field: Twice on interceptions, once on a fumble return, once on a punt return and once on a kickoff return. ... Oregon is 15-2 in games after a bye since 1995.