Joriell Washington will have to wait a little longer than expected to see the practice field in Champaign. Unfortunately, a pre-existing injury will keep the early enrollee sidelined for the spring.

Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed that Washington will miss spring practice after having surgery on a pre-existing foot injury. There was no timetable provided on the defensive back’s potential return to action, but it sounds like summer or fall camp will be a target date.

Washington is a member of Illinois’ 2021 recruiting class and has already enrolled with the school. A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Washington ranks just outside the Top 100 safeties in the 2021 recruiting cycle.

Illinois’ recruiting class is small this year, due in part to the coaching change at the end of the season. While Bielema made last-minute efforts to add to the class and also invaded the NCAA transfer portal, the Fighting Illini are still looking at a 14-member class in 2021.

Having Washington practice this spring would’ve been advantageous for Illinois, but it doesn’t appear to be possible.