Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said freshman linebacker Manti Te'o will play more this week, which Weis has pretty much been saying since the third week of the season.

Te'o is slowly building a nice first season with six tackles, two for loss, and he recorded his first sack against Purdue last week. The Hawaiian also worked out with the first-team defense in the nickel package during Tuesday's open practice time.

Weis denied Te'o getting potentially more playing Saturday against Washington having anything to do with Huskies mobile quarterback Jake Locker.

"It's more coincidental to our progress with Manti," Weis said. "Could it help us, yes. But one didn't have a direct tie to the other."

Weis said Te'o starting to adjust more to the college game is what is prompting the freshman to receive more playing time.

"It is not a question whether or not Manti is athletic enough. He's obviously got top-line athleticism," Weis said. "I think it has taken him a little time to get comfortable with the position and all the formation recognition and everything that goes on that is totaling different then when you're in high school. In high school, usually a team will line up in their formation whether it's a spread, it will be a two by two on every play, and you will basically be dealing with one or two formations and you get lined up and go where they go.

"Now all of the sudden you get teams that have multiple formations and multiple personnel groups, just getting settled into a comfort zone of knowing what to do. The sky is the limit for him. Once he knows what to do, he is going to be able to do it and do it very well."

And the best way for Te'o to get comfortable it to be on the field.

"I think it is tough to evolve without being out there," Weis said. "He will be out there a bunch more on Saturday."