Nebraska football fans got the news they were, unfortunately, expecting on Monday morning when Matt Rhule gave updates on Saturday’s injuries.
Despite starting the season in relatively good health, the Nebraska football team has seen major injuries seemingly every week of the regular season. On Monday, Matt Rhule announced what are arguably the most impactful injuries of the season, and they’re all major.
Rhule said that offensive linemen Ethan Piper and Turner Corcoran are both out for the rest of the season. Noure Noilli is also hurt but is only out for the next couple of weeks.
In other words, three-fifths of Nebraska football’s starting offensive line is out for the Purdue game. Most likely out for the Michigan State game. And the Huskers will be looking at new starters for the rest of a season that is still hanging in the balance.
The good news here is that Nebraska football has seemingly prepared for one massive injury after another, especially on the offensive line, by rotating guys in from day one. Rhule said that it is, once again, next man up, and that means Teddy Prochazka at tackle, Justin Evans-Jenkins, and Henry Lutovsky at guard as staters this week.
There was also a bit of good news that center Ben Scott is OK and will play fully against the Boilermakers.
More Nebraska football bad news
The offensive line wasn’t the only unit that took a major hit on Saturday, either. Billy Kemp IV suffered an MCL sprain against Northwestern.
While he’s not expected to miss the rest of the season, he will also be out against Purdue and likely Michigan State. It’s yet another hit to a wide receiver room that has been hit rather hard with injuries this year.
The Huskers are once again going to have to regroup in the middle of a season that has seen unprecedented levels of starters going down. And it’s all happening while Nebraska football is still trying to make a bowl game.