Nebraska football fans relying on the Big Ten Network to keep them in the loop about a potential injury situation involving star freshman running back Jamal Rule were left wanting on Saturday evening.
Rule started the game for the Huskers against Michigan State but struggled to get going as the Spartans' defensive front routinely stunted its way past the NU offensive line. The early struggles on the ground meant that through four carries, he tallied just four yards. And then, he disappeared from the game entirely.
Nebraska waits with baited breath for good news about Jamal Rule's injury
Eagle-eyed analysts noticed that Rule had to go to the tent at one point and then gingerly headed to the Nebraska locker room late in the first quarter. He didn't return to the game in the first half, a development that BTN broadcasters seemed to have completely missed, as there wasn't a single comment about it either during the game or during the halftime show.
One positive sign was that, right before the end of the second quarter, Rule was seen back on the sidelines, jogging, then running. It appeared that Rule was testing his body to see whether he could return to the game.
Because Nebraska scored on four straight possessions to take a 24-10 halftime lead, Rule wasn't needed. However, while the offense racked up big yards and the defense was mostly able to stuff a Spartans offense that was without starting running back Cam Edwards for most of the half, Rule is the kind of sparkplug that the Huskers would love to get back at some point.
However, near the end of the first half, reports were that Rule was still limping. That is especially bad news as the Huskers started the second half extremely out of sync on offense. An even bigger problem is that this is hardly the first time it's looked like the momentum it seized in the first half, didn't carry over when they got to catch their breath.
Win or lose, Nebraska's Big Ten opener has been a comedy of errors for both teams. Also win or lose, quite a bit of attention will be paid to just how badly hurt Jamal Rule was during the first half of the game. Ideally, he'll miss the rest of the Spartans game but be good to go for Maryland next week. Likewise, ideally, the Huskers will find a way to get back in sync and improve to 4-0 on the season.
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