Nebraska injury updates: Matt Rhule gives status on multiple hurt Cornhuskers

Ahead of a home game against Rutgers, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule shared an encouraging set of updates on a pair of injured defenders, linebacker Stefon Thomspon and defensive back Tommi Hill.

Both players have been participating in practice, Rhule said. And Thompson seems likely to see the field on Saturday with Hill not too far behind.

“I think Stefon will be available to play. I think Tommi believe’s he’ll be available to play,” Rhule said. “We’ll probably get him to the game and he’s practiced all week so we’ll see if he’s able to play at the level he’s capable of playing at. And I appreciate both of them, the work they put in to get back on the field.”

Rhule, however, did not have much positive news on offensive lineman Turner Corcoran, who will apparently be out for a number of weeks if not longer. Corcoran injured his hamstring in Week 4.

“I don’t know Turner’s — I think originally it was like a 4-to-6 week injury, but I think so much of that depends on how things are going. So, I don’t know that I can even say where that would be,” Rhule said.

Rhule had indicated earlier in the week that both Thompson and Hill would have good chances to play on Saturday. Neither played in Nebraska’s most recent game. But with the schedule starting to pick up in the coming weeks, any and all defensive reinforcements will be welcomed with open arms by Rhule and Co.

“Stefon Thompson has a sprained foot, and he ran well today, so we’re anticipating him practicing tomorrow, so I’ll know more about that,” Rhule said on Monday. “And then Tommi, you know, Tommi went out like the NFL, like two hours before the game, and worked out and just didn’t quite feel like he could go on it. 

“He ran today and felt good. So I would anticipate Tommi having a chance to play this week. I think that’ll be another, probably to be quite honest, a game time decision. The plantar fascia is all pain threshold, and you know, it’s not like, can you tough it out? I mean, I’ve seen guys miss a long time with it, so he’s doing everything can to play. So we’ll see.”