Injury Update

[Blackshirt]

Updating injuries

 

Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said wide receiver Willie Amos is scheduled to practice this week and he's hopeful that Amos can play against Pitt. The senior, who caught two touchdown passes in the season opener against Western Illinois, was sidelined for last Saturday's loss to Southern Miss with what head coach Bill Callahan called a hip-flexor injury.

 

The Huskers could be without two defensive starters on Saturday. Defensive end Adam Carriker was on crutches Sunday after suffering an ankle injury when he was clipped against Southern Miss. Cornerback Lornell McPherson pulled a hamstring while running downfield on punt coverage against the Golden Eagles.

 

If McPherson can't play, NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said true freshman Cortney Grixby would earn the start at right corner. Grixby is listed on Nebraska's depth chart as the No. 2 left cornerback behind Fabian Washington.

 

NU weakside linebacker Chad Sievers continues to be bothered by a sore back.

 

Quick hitters

 

 

NCAA Division I-AA Western Illinois rebounded nicely from its 56-17 season-opening loss at Nebraska. The Leathernecks drilled Division II Cheyney (Pa.) 98-7. WIU led 42-0 after the first quarter and 70-0 at halftime.

 

USA Today oddsmaker Danny Sheridan lists Nebraska as a four-point favorite on the road at Pittsburgh Saturday. The Panthers beat Ohio 24-3 last Saturday in their season opener.

 

Pittsburgh leads the all-time series against Nebraska 15-4-3. The two schools haven't squared off on the football field since 1958 after playing every year from 1927 to 1942.

CREDIT:--Terry Douglass

 

Practice report

 

The Nebraska football team continued its week-long preparations for Saturday's road game at Pittsburgh with a two-hour workout in full pads inside Cook Pavilion on Tuesday.

 

Despite the high number of turnovers occurring on offense in last weekend's loss to Southern Miss, Callahan believes the players remain confident and will work hard to bounce back with a solid effort against Pittsburgh.

 

"I think when you generate the numbers and the output that we did on the offensive side, I really don't think the confidence is rattled or shaken," Callahan said. "This is a driven team, and I'll tell you something, this team is unique. They've been through a lot of challenges in the last year or so, and this is just another one of those challenges we've got to go out and work hard on to improve."

 

Callahan also named NU's Players of the Week for the Southern Miss game week. Cory Ross earned offensive player of the week after racking up 196 all-purpose yards, while Daniel Bullocks earned the nod on defense, recording six solo tackles and an interception against the Golden Eagles. Adam Ickes was tabbed special teams player of the week, and Brett Byford and Andy Kadavy earned scout team honors.

 

NU will continue its preparations for the Panthers with an afternoon workout Wednesday.

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