Nebraska has a bye this week, but that still doesn't sound like it'll be enough time for two of the team's top pass-catchers to heal up from injuries sustained in this past weekend's win over Illinois.
Huskers head coach Mike Riley said during Tuesday's Big Ten coaches teleconference that wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp and tight end Cethan Carter likely won't play in the Oct. 15 game against Indiana.
"I don't think Jordan and Cethan will make it for the next game, but possibly for the game after that," Riley said. "After about a 10-day period, it's going to be how they feel and with what they have if they are able to perform, pain-wise. So it's going to be a little while before we can tell exactly when they might be back."
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Westerkamp took a shot to the back during the win over the Illini and ended up going to the hospital as a precaution. Riley only called it "an injury to his back" during his comments Tuesday. Carter suffered an apparent elbow injury in last weekend's game.
"Right now everything is very, very sore and tight, so it's going to be a matter of how quickly it loosens up and how much better he can feel in a certain amount of time," Riley said of Westerkamp. "I think that's going to take some time. We're just glad it wasn't any worse than that, and it appears that he will be back relatively soon."
Being without those two guys would be a big blow for Nebraska, which is still a perfect 5-0 on the season and will take that loss-less record into that game against Indiana. Westerkamp is the team's leading receiver with 13 catches for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Carter has 10 catches on the season for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Riley added that he's "hopeful" wide receiver Alonzo Moore, who sat out the Illinois game with an injury of his own, can return against Indiana. Moore has 12 catches for 310 yards and two touchdowns.
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And Devine Ozigbo, who suffered an ankle sprain against Illinois, is also battling an injury. Riley said that Ozigbo won't practice during the team's bye week. Ozigo is second on the team with 76 rushes for 318 yards and four touchdowns.
Nursing all these injuries on the offensive side of the ball, the Huskers can certainly use the week off.
"It appears the bye is coming at a good time for us because we've got a couple players who got hurt in the game, give them a little bit more time to heal up," Riley said. "It feels like if we're going to have a bye, this is a good time for us."