Javin Wright injury update: Nebraska got a 'really positive update' on linebacker's status

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule was heartened on Thursday morning when he received what he would tell reporters was a “really positive update” on the health and status of linebacker Javin Wright. A timeline for Wright’s return is still not entirely clear.

But even if Rhule is still not sure when Wright might be cleared to get back into action for Nebraska, he seemingly found Thursday’s news to be a major boon. The nature of Wright’s issue is not clear, as Rhule and Co. have referred to it as a “health condition.”

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Evidently, though, Wright has made some notable strides in getting healthy enough to play.

“We got a really positive update on him today so things are trending in the right direction for him to come back at some point sooner than later,” Rhule said. “But, again, there’s a lot of steps that have to happen. So I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but he’s battling and doing everything right. We got a really good report, literally this morning. So I’ve got a little pep in my step for him.” 

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Rhule had previously said in mid-August that the fifth-year linebacker — who hadn’t played a full season until 2023 due to various injuries — was out indefinitely.

“Has has a health condition that we’re working through right now, so I’ll probably leave it at that, just until he’s ready to talk more about it,” Rhule said then. “He’s with the team. He’ll be with us, but dealing with a health condition that will hold him from playing for right now. He’ll be okay, he just can’t play right now.”

In 2023, Wright totaled 51 tackles (20 solo) to go with 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two interceptions as a mainstay within the Huskers defensive unit. Before that, he had recorded just nine tackles in his first three years on campus.

While losing Wright for an undisclosed amount of time. Nebraska, which returned some key pieces from last season, ranked as the nation’s No. 13 scoring defense as well as ranked No. 11 in total defense last year in Rhule’s inaugural season in 2023. They’re expected to build on that in 2024 under his guidance.

With Wright working on his health, Rhule name-dropped quite a few linebackers that figure to step in and fill in during his absence. Mikai Gbayor and transfer Stefon Thompson will be two of the main linebackers Rhule is expected to rely on heading into the 2024 regular season.

He also pointed toward Vincent Shavers, Gage Stenger and Vincent Genatone as names that could see some valuable minutes on Rhule’s defense in 2024.

“I think it’s a strength,” Rhule said of his linebacker corps. “But I mean, I think [Wright] was playing at an elite level. … I think the strength of that unit will be fine, I just really, really wanted to see Javin have the opportunity to play. He worked so hard, and I believe he’s a pro player. But the outlook is optimistic that they can be resolved for him to be back at some point, but not for right now.”

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.