If Purdue is going to beat Nebraska on Saturday, it will likely have to be done with a depleted collection of running backs.
Boilermaker coach Jeff Brohm said after practice today that the No. 1 running back King Doerue will be a game decider. He is struggling with a calf injury that has kept him away for the last four games. No. 2 backback Dylan Downing is out with a foot injury he sustained in Maryland last week.
That means Purdue will likely have to lean on Devin Mockobee, Kobe Lewis and Tyrone Tracy – a wideout by trade – to carry the ball.
“Think King could dress up,” Brohm said. “I’m not sure if he can still play. We’re going to see this through to game time. If not, Devin will have to shoulder the burden. Kobe had a good week of training. Tyrone Tracy needs to get up too.”
Purdue (4-2 overall; 2-1 Big Ten) hosts Nebraska (3-3; 2-1) on Saturday at the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Every team has a certain momentum, with the Boilermakers on a three-game winning streak and the Cornhuskers on two straight wins. Both schools rank with Illinois at the top of the Big Ten West. So the stakes at Ross Ade Stadium under the lights will be significant.
“We had a good week of training,” said Brohm. “I think our boys understand that every week has to be productive. We have to learn from our mistakes of the previous week. We can’t take any shortcuts. We have to do all the little things. Any team we’re going to play against will be a huge test .”
This is the first of five straight division games for Purdue that will shape his title dreams.
“This team (Nebraska) has a lot of talent,” Brohm added. “A lot of really good athletes. They play loose and loose and we have to play well.”
Purdue’s cause would be helped if Charlie Jones was 100 percent committed. But he isn’t, which is why his production has collapsed in recent weeks. Jones had 32 catches in the first three games; he has 18 the last three.
“He came with some issues that we knew we had to deal with throughout the season,” said Brohm. “And then he developed a few more things. But we managed pretty well this week. He didn’t train on Tuesday. He practiced lighter yesterday and today. So I’m hoping he can be as fresh as possible to get him .”
The receiving unit should get a boost from Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, who is expected to see his most significant snaps of 2022. Struggling with a knee problem, he finally made his Maryland debut last week playing snap.
“Well, we hope so,” Brohm said. “I think Abdur was the first week he really trained last week and had a good week of training. And I think Charlie got beat up and beat up. We need to get Abdur in there for many reasons. But he needed another good week of training. I hope he’s ready to go into the game and we can use him.”
But co-receiver Elijah Canion is back out having picked up an already injured knee.
“He’s been trying to train this week and tweaked it again, so I’m watching him for the foreseeable future,” said Brohm.
And wideout Broc Thompson will miss a fifth straight game as he recovers from knee surgery.
“The timetable (for his return) will take a while,” said Brohm.
Defensive defender Chris Jefferson will be out as he deals with mental health issues. He started in the first five games before coming off the bench in limited action last week. Purdue will be leaning on Sanoussi Kane to fill Jefferson’s role for a second straight game.
Also out: WLB OC Brothers are expected to miss a second game in a row.
“Lower extremity,” Brohm said. “Maybe next week at best. If not, after bye week. After that he should be back.”
Brothers started the first five games. Clyde Washington will once again step into the void of the brothers.
The offensive line could be a problem area. On Monday, Brohm said Daniel Johnson, No. 1 right tackle, was lost due to a season-ending knee injury. He started at the Florida Atlantic and Minnesota games before missing in Maryland last week. Johnson started for Cam Craig, who was lost for the year with a back injury. The depth gets thin as the staff is down to just six linemen to be comfortable with.
Against the Terrapins, Eric Miller switched from left tackle to right tackle while Mahamane Moussa came off the bench to start left tackle. Expect a similar lineup on Saturday with Spencer Holstege on the left, Gus Hartwig in the middle and Marcus Mbow on the right.