Gophers coach Jerry Kill said that he hadn’t seen anything like the injuries his team was facing before last week’s game at Purdue.
But things might be getting a little better for the Gophers on the injury front. According to Kill at his Tuesday afternoon press conference, the team expects to get a few players back for Saturday’s game against Nebraska.
#Gophers S Damarius Travis is expected back vs. Nebraska, while CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun is questionable right now, coach Jerry Kill said.
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) October 13, 2015
While those are a few big name players who can help on the defensive side of the ball, Kill added that both Charles Rogers and Briean Boddy-Calhoun will be out.
Offensively, center Brian Bobek and tackle Josh Campion are also not expected to return.
According to Gophers Digest, Kill plans to leave the workloads about the same for offensive linemen Jon Christenson and Joe Bjorkland – both of whom are coming off knee injuries.
“We’ll keep it the same. We have two kids that have knee injuries and Joe Bjorklund and [Christenson], and there’s no way they can play 50, 60 plays a game, and so we played them pretty much evenly in the game which helps both of them. We substitute them more than we ever have.”
Kill has utmost respect for Nebraska
Despite Nebraska’s slow start under first year head coach Mike Riley, Kill said he still has the utmost respect for the program.
The Pioneer Press notes that Kill remains close with former Nebraska coach and athletic director Tom Osborne, who led the Cornhuskers to three national championships in his 25 years as head coach.
“I’ve got a great deal of respect for what (Osborne did) there and all the coaches before him,” Kill said Tuesday. “I’ve had players that I had in high school play there.”
The Gophers and Nebraska kickoff on Saturday at 2:30 at TCF Bank Stadium. Minnesota has won the last two meetings.
