Nebraska got a lift Friday on the injury front, with two of its key playmakers trending in the right direction as the Cornhuskers finish up their prep for Saturday’s homecoming game against Maryland.
Freshman running back Jamal Rule and junior wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. both moved up on Nebraska’s latest availability report submitted to the Big Ten. Rule went from doubtful to questionable, while Barney climbed from questionable to probable.
That’s especially encouraging for Rule, Nebraska’s leading rusher and already the author of three 100-yard games. He was limited to just eight snaps last week against Michigan State before leaving with an injury. His status matters even more because Nebraska’s running back room has been short on proven production.
Barney’s situation was less obvious during the game, but his workload against the Spartans told the story. He logged only 21 snaps in East Lansing, his lightest usage of the season, according to PFF. If he’s able to go against the Terps, Nebraska gets back a valuable piece in the passing game and on returns.
The one new name to watch is junior running back Mekhi Nelson. He was not on Wednesday’s initial report, but Nebraska added him Thursday as questionable, and that designation did not change Friday.
Nelson played 42 snaps against Michigan State, finishing with 61 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He looked healthy leaving East Lansing, which makes his status a little more surprising.
If Nelson is available, Nebraska would have a major boost on the ground. If Rule is also able to suit up, the Huskers could have both of their most productive backs in uniform for their second conference game of the 2026 season. If not, the margin gets a lot thinner fast.
A handful of other players remained in their same spots on the report. Rex Guthrie and Brendan Black stayed probable, while Bryson Webber and Tanner Terch were upgraded from questionable to probable.
Larry Miles, Kahmir Prescott, Gage Stenger, Jase Reynolds, Jacob Bower, and Gabe Moore have not played this season for Nebraska, and for the most part, they are expected to remain out for the rest of the year, with Moore the possible exception.
Junior tight end Carter Nelson is still out after suffering an injury in the second half of Nebraska’s win over North Dakota. He left the field appearing to be in severe pain and has been listed as out on every report since.
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For a fan base that has spent years waiting for signs of real progress, Colandreas impact mattered beyond the box score. He helped shift the tone of the conversation around the program, showing a level of command that can travel into future weeks, even if Nebraska still has work to do before those encouraging moments start turning into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]