SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior wideout Andrae Thuman caught nine passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, but was flagged for a crucial penalty against UW.

The list of wounded starters got a little bigger this week after senior free safety Jarvie Worcester broke his arm during the Washington game. Head coach John Mackovic said he expects Worcester will miss the rest of the season, but a slight chance exists that he might be able to come back for the last two games of the year.

True freshman Lamon Means could fill Worcester's spot, or starting strong safety Clay Hardt, who has been hurt himself, might move to his free safety position.

Worcester's injury was the latest hit taken in an already devastated defensive backfield for the Wildcats.

No. 1 cornerback Michael Jolivette is already likely to miss most of the season with ligament damage in his knee, and No. 2 corner Darrell Brooks has missed the last two games with a back injury. Brooks is listed as questionable for this weekend's game against Stanford.

"I have never had a string of injuries like this," Mackovic said about his defensive backfield situation.

Mackovic said he was disappointed with the two taunting penalties the Wildcats drew on Saturday, but did feel the calls were correct.

In particular, he cited junior wide receiver Andrae Thurman's penalty late in the fourth quarter that cost the Wildcats 15 yards on what could have been the game-saving drive.

Arizona was trying to run out the clock on the Washington 48-yard line when senior quarterback Jason Johnson connected with Bobby Wade for a 12-yard gain to the Husky 36.

But instead of having a first-and-10 situation with 3:34 to go, Arizona was backed up 15 yards after the taunting call on Thurman. He got in UW cornerback Derrick Johnson's face as he lay injured on the field.

It was one of four 15-yard personal-foul penalties against Arizona in the game, which accounted for 60 of the team's 120 penalty yards.

Mackovic said he was going to internally discipline players whose conduct he felt was inappropriate, though he was unwilling to single out the players he was referring to.

Defensive backs aren't the only players having problems staying healthy so far this season.

Mackovic said the injuries on the offensive line have been as much of a problem for the team, especially after a game in Washington where only six of the 14 linemen on scholarship were available for action.

Things aren't looking any better on that front, as key blockers Darren Safranek, Chris Johnson, John Parada and John Vorsheck are all questionable or doubtful for Saturday against Stanford.

Also on defense, tackle Brad Brittian is out after suffering a freak injury to his knee as he was trying to go under his garage door on Friday.

Mackovic said the defense is making some progress despite the spate of injuries to key players.

He said the efforts against the run and the pass were both as good as could be expected, highlighting Washington's 82 yards on the ground and the number of times the defense forced Huskies quarterback Cody Pickett to check down to second or third options on passing plays.

Former scout team quarterback Adam Austin was the emergency quarterback in Washington, taking the roster spot of freshman Nic Costa who did not travel because of a bad groin.

Costa is listed as questionable this week, but said he is likely to play.

Freshman quarterback Ryan O'Hara was the backup to Johnson.