Mickey Joseph shares how Nebraska overcame Chubba Purdy, Mark Whipple injuries

Injuries are an inevitability in football, but usually it’s the players who get hurt. Against Michigan on Saturday, Nebraska got a unique double-dose when quarterback Chubba Purdy and offensive coordinator Mark Whipple both got dinged up late in the first half.

With Purdy — already starting in place of normal starter Casey Thompson — out, the Cornhuskers turned to third-string quarterback Logan Smothers. And with Whipple getting medical attention during the half, interim head coach Mickey Joseph explained that the offensive adjustments fell to other assistants.

“Well we have some really good offensive coaches and they do their normal routine, making adjustments — without Whipple,” Joseph said postgame. “And then once got in, they let him know the adjustments that they made. But it wasn’t any different than any other times. We had to get Logan ready, but Logan was ready because he played a little bit of the first half.”

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It was ultimately a rough day for Smothers. He went 4-for-8 passing for 15 yards and took four rushes for one yard — though that total includes sack yardage. Whatever bit of juice Purdy had given the offense was just not there with Smothers and Nebraska couldn’t muster any second-half points.

After the game, Joseph revealed the injury to Purdy’s right knee.

“Chubba has a high ankle sprain right now,” Joseph said postgame.

By the beginning of the week, Joseph had a grim update regarding Purdy’s injury.

“Logan was better today, he’s been a little beat up but he was better today. He threw the ball around and he ran pretty well today. Chubba’s out, high ankle sprain. We’ll get him in surgery in two or three days,” Joseph said.

Joseph is optimistic Thompson can return for the penultimate game

The Cornhuskers could get Thompson back for the final two games of the season, interim head coach Mickey Joseph hinted on Tuesday. According to Joseph, Thompson is practicing, however, he’s keeping the details of his participation under wraps.

“Casey practiced today, he made some throws, so we’re still going to take him day-by-day and see how he feels on gameday,” Joseph said during his press conference previewing Wisconsin. “I expect him to be able to practice every day but we don’t know what volume he’ll be able to throw it.

Joseph also confirmed that Thompson has participated in the team’s live sessions at practice as well. He has missed the last two games after starting the first eight with 2,023 pass yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.