Indiana’s injury picture after Week 1 has a little bit of good news, a little bit of bad, and a few chances for younger players to move up the ladder.
The biggest positive for the Hoosiers is that starting cornerbacks Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris are both considered “day-to-day” after getting hurt in the first quarter against North Texas. Curt Cignetti gave that update Monday, and it leaves Indiana hopeful that neither issue turns into a long absence.
The tougher blow is at running back. Khobie Martin, one of IU’s top options in the backfield, is expected to miss some time after getting hurt while pass blocking on his second snap of the game.
Cignetti said, “Khobie Martin will be out for a little bit. Expect him back sometime around midseason,” and Martin later posted a photo on social media Sunday showing his arm in a sling with his right forearm area wrapped.
Martin’s absence opens the door for more work for Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe, Jr., and it also means Indiana will take a closer look at second-year back Sean Cuono and first-year Jayreon Campbell in the coming weeks. At minimum, one of them is expected to fill the role Martin had a year ago as the third running back, the one who handled relatively limited snaps when games were tight.
That kind of shuffle has already created a path for other players before, and it may again now. Cuono and Campbell are the next names in line to benefit, just as injuries have previously created opportunities for others.
Cignetti also came away encouraged by what he saw from second-year cornerback Jaylen Bell on Saturday. “Jaylen Bell played extensively to the field and I thought did a nice job,” he said.
That performance matters because Indiana now has another corner it can lean on if needed, alongside Ryland Gandy, who also filled in on Saturday and started a game last season.
There were also two other young players who missed the opener but are still expected to be part of the program’s future. Freshman defensive tackle Blake Smythe and freshman tight end Trevor Gibbs both sat out against North Texas with what appear to be minor injuries, and both are expected to have roles in 2026.
Cignetti said Gibbs could be back as soon as this week, though the staff plans to be cautious. “Gibbs was not available (against North Texas).
He might return this week,” Cignetti said. “We’re going to take it slow.
We need him long term. He’s close to returning, as is Blake Smythe, who wasn’t available for the game on Saturday.”
In Other News...
Curt Cignetti Sends Early Message As IU Receiver Breaks Out
Davion Chandlers early-season burst has given Indiana another playmaker to lean on, and the freshman wideout has already made a big impression with just two catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. His latest score came with a little extra flair after he spiked the ball in celebration, a moment that fit the energy of a receiver who has quickly turned limited touches into game-changing production.
Curt Cignetti took the opportunity to reinforce the standard he wants his team to follow, making clear that Indiana prefers group celebrations over individual ones. It was not a new message from the head coach, either, since he has already addressed similar reactions from other players and made sure Chandler understood where that line is drawn. For a Hoosiers offense trying to build an identity, the playmaking matters, but so does the way the moment is handled afterward. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Loses Khobie Martin And The Backfield Question Gets Real
Curt Cignetti confirmed Monday that Indiana will be without running back Khobie Martin for a stretch after the arm injury he picked up in the season opener, with the junior expected back around midseason. Martin went down early and never got a carry before leaving the game, a frustrating turn for a back the Hoosiers had hoped to lean on as they settled into the fall.
For now, the backfield belongs to Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard, who are positioned to carry the load while Indiana adjusts. It is the kind of early-season setback that can change the shape of an offense quickly, and it leaves the Hoosiers with a real chance to learn something about their depth before Martin is able to rejoin the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Suddenly Has An Early Depth Problem It Can't Ignore
Indianas second week of the season is already carrying the kind of injury uncertainty that can force a staff to rethink its rotation before the calendar even settles in. The Hoosiers are dealing with multiple bumps from the opener, with starting cornerbacks Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris both leaving early and listed day-to-day, while running back Khobie Martin is expected to be out for several weeks before a midseason return.
The ripple effects do not stop there. Indiana also has questions at tight end and along the defensive line, where Trevor Gibbs and Blake Smythe are among the players sidelined but potentially on a quicker path back. For a team still trying to establish rhythm in the first stretch of the 2026 season, the issue is not just who can play next week - it is how long the Hoosiers can keep absorbing these losses before the depth chart starts to look thinner in the places that matter most. [Read more 🡒]