Matt Rhule shares update on Luke Reimer after being taken to hospital before Michigan game

Nebraska linebacker Luke Reimer is back with the team after being taken to the hospital prior to Saturday’s game against Michigan, coach Matt Rhule revealed Monday. Reimer was dealing with some pain after suffering an injury earlier in the week that ultimately kept him out against the Wolverines.

Although his return to the team is certainly good to see, it appears he’ll need a little more time before getting back on the field. The Cornhuskers have a quick turnaround this week as they play Illinois on Friday, and Rhule revealed that Reimer won’t be available to play.

“Luke Reimer is out of the hospital,” he said. “Kind of back-and-forth a little bit with it, so Luke won’t play this Friday. But hopefully we’ll have Luke back and healthy with us here soon.”

Rhule did not specify what injury caused the linebacker to go to the hospital. However, he did say it was “non-football related.” This season, Reimer has recorded 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

In 2022, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media and the league’s coaches. He led the team with 86 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Reimer tacked on five pass breakups and one interception. He also earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2021, after he racked up 108 tackles (career-high), six tackles for loss, and one sack.

Rhule revealed on Saturday that Reimer suffered his injury during Nebraska’s practice last week, but the team expected him to play. However, he woke up that morning feeling worse, and the trip to the hospital was mostly precautionary as the team wanted to make sure it wasn’t more serious than they thought.

“They gave him an antibiotic and the antibiotic didn’t heal it,” the coach said. “So, they just wanted to rule out infections, MRSA, and all those things. I don’t have knowledge of it now, but that was a complete and total surprise to me this morning. It was actually at breakfast. The doctors came to me, and I said, ‘Listen, let’s get him to the hospital. Last thing I would want would be for something worse to happen.'”

Without Reimer, the Cornhuskers defense struggled in an eventual 45-7 loss. They trailed 35-0 after three quarters as they saw their record fall to 2-3 (0-2 Big Ten).

Nebraska will hope to notch its first conference win when it kicks off against Illinois at 7 p.m. CT on Friday in Champaign.