Mickey Joseph provides Gabe Ervin Jr. injury update

Nebaska has lost three straight games after a brief turnaround under interim coach Mickey Joseph, and the Cornhuskers are looking to close the season on a strong note. One player who could help is running back Gabe Ervin Jr., sidelined by injury for the last month.

Joseph revealed Tuesday that Ervin is on the mend following turf toe and has resumed some practice activities.

“Gabe practiced today. Gabe looked good today,” Joseph said. “We worked him out yesterday, the trainers just running him through some things. He looked really good today. But this is turf toe, and I’ve had turf toe before. It’s a tricky injury. It can come and it can go. But he practiced today.”

A 6-foot, 215-pound freshman, Ervin logged 15 carries for 82 yards before he was sidelined.

He had really begun to emerge in the team’s loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 17 and in a win over Indiana on Oct. 1. Thirteen of his 15 carries and all but one of his rushing yards this season were recorded in those two games.

And though lead running back Anthony Grant has piled up 858 yards and six touchdowns on 177 carries, he’s had to tote the rock a lot. The next closest in carries is running back Ajay Allen, with only 33 carries on the season.

If Gabe Ervin Jr.’s injury no longer keeps him out, he could begin to help spell Grant in the backfield.

Gabe Ervin Jr. injury not only one ‘Huskers are monitoring

While the ‘Huskers would certainly like to get Gabe Ervin Jr. back from injury, starting quarterback Casey Thompson‘s injury also bears monitoring.

The starting quarterback left the team’s loss to Illinois on Oct. 29 with an arm injury and missed last weekend’s game against Minnesota. Joseph also provided a health update on Thompson on Tuesday.

“We held Casey [out of practice] today,” Joseph said. “Just trying to still be day-by-day with him. But we held him today. No reps today.”

The outlook for Thompson playing Saturday against No. 4 Michigan is a bit more bleak.

“Right now, you know, just looking at him today, I probably would rule out Casey. If he doesn’t go by tomorrow. If he doesn’t go by tomorrow, I’m gonna have to rule him out,” Mickey Joseph said.

“I mean, I look at these kids as my sons. So, I’m not going to put them out there if they can’t go, and like I said, Casey’s gonna say he’s feeling better, but I’ve gotta be smart with Casey and not put him out there if he can’t perform at a high level.”