Nebraska’s injury picture got a lot brighter Thursday night, and that matters plenty for a team trying to halt a three-game skid.
On the Big Ten availability report, safety Jamir Conn and offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula both moved from questionable on Tuesday to probable. For a Huskers team that needs bodies and stability, that’s about as good a development as it could ask for right now.
Conn has been one of Nebraska’s most active defenders when he’s been on the field. He started all six of the team’s first games and piled up 26 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He was in the middle of a lot of the good things Nebraska did early, and his absence has been felt.
His injury came against Indiana, and he did not play in Nebraska’s game against Oregon. In the Indiana game, Conn’s fourth-quarter exit may have mattered on two long touchdown passes in which the defenders were left completely uncovered. Both plays appeared to come from the Huskers’ safeties misreading the direction of the play.
Nebraska also had to get by without Gottula after he suffered a concussion against Oregon. He sat out the Halloween Blackout game and now looks set to return after missing two weeks.
Defensive coordinator Rob Aurich said Tuesday of Conn, “He was at practice this week.” Aurich added that the senior still had to “go through a couple more check marks” before getting back on the field, and finished by saying, “When we do get him back, he’ll be welcomed.”
Even if Conn is not back in his usual starting role right away, Nebraska could use Gottula in whatever capacity he can handle Friday night. Against Washington, the Huskers’ starting offensive line of Elijah Pritchett, Paul Mubenga, Justin Evans, Brendan Black and Tree Babalade were the only linemen to play the entire game, with each logging 77 offensive snaps.
The Huskers would love to have both Conn and Gottula available and operating normally Friday night against Illinois.
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Nebraska Gets A Key Friday Night Boost With One Big Question Left
Nebraska should get a useful Friday night boost up front with Gunnar Gottula expected back on the offensive line against Illinois after recovering from a head injury. The Cornhuskers also have safety Jamir Conn back at practice and listed as probable, giving the defense a chance to regain another piece as the game approaches.
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