Washington gets start at tailback

Seniority apparently has its privileges.

A week after sophomore starter C.J. Gable ran for 40 yards on his first carry against Nebraska and sophomore Stafon Johnson rushed for a career-best 144 yards, senior Chauncey Washington will start at tailback against Washington State, Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday.

Washington, the Trojans’ leading rusher last season, had been on track to start the opener against Idaho before he suffered a shoulder sprain in the Trojans’ final training camp scrimmage.

Washington gained 43 yards in 12 carries and scored two short touchdowns against Nebraska.

“He had a great camp until he got knocked and he’s done a lot of good things and he’s back out here,” Carroll said.

Washington said he was informed of his starting role earlier in the week.

“Coach Carroll said once I got back from the injury I would be in there,” Washington said. “I’m just the first man up. It doesn’t mean I’m going to get all the carries.”

Carroll said many tailbacks would play Saturday against the Cougars in the Pacific 10 Conference opener at the Coliseum.

“We’ll continue to keep it moving and see how it goes and kind of feel if anybody seems to be more effective than the others, then we’ll get a little bit more time for them, but we plan on playing everybody” Carroll said.

Strong-side linebacker Brian Cushing still is not full speed because of an ankle sprain and linebacker Clay Matthews is wearing a soft cast because of a broken left thumb.

Fifth-year senior linebacker Thomas Williams, therefore, is prepared to start if needed against Washington State.

Williams started six times at strong-side linebacker and twice at middle linebacker in 2005. Last season, he started at fullback against Stanford and UCLA.

Defensive end Kyle Moore said he sat out part of practice because of a groin strain but would play Saturday. . . . Vincent Joseph, who suffered a neck sprain and bruised larynx while returning a kickoff against Nebraska, practiced but did not take part in contact drills. Joseph said he would not play Saturday. . . . Sourena Vasseghi, an author and motivational speaker who has cerebral palsy, addressed the Trojans after practice. Carroll met Vasseghi, a USC graduate, last year at a practice. “It’s a tremendous story,” Carroll said.

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gary.klein@latimes.com