Purdue bye week goal: Get healthy
Timing isn’t always perfect in life. But, without a doubt, Purdue’s bye this week is hitting at an ideal period. The Boilermakers (2-5 overall; 1-3 Big Ten) need this respite after grinding for seven weeks in succession. Injuries are mounting.
“We got a bye week coming up at the right time,” said Ryan Walters after Saturday’s 41-7 loss to Ohio State. “We’re definitely banged up as a program. So, we gotta get guys back and get healthy to go on this last five-game stretch. We’re sitting at two wins right now.”
Purdue needs to win four of its remaining five games to become bowl eligible for a third season in a row. Next up: at trip on Oct. 28 to Nebraska, where Purdue has won the last two times it has visited. Before that junket, the Boilermakers need to get healthy.
“I think everybody in this building will tell you that these seniors that are here deserve to play in the postseason,” said Walters. “So, we got to get at least four of the next five. We’ll use this week to rest up, to hit the ground recruiting as a staff, to try to get some extra practices in and get young guys and guys that haven’t done a whole lot of playing some good work and reps throughout the week.
“And then we’ll add some Nebraska prep towards the end of the week and get a good Sunday practice heading into the game week and try to go get a win in Lincoln.”
MORE: Gold and Black Radio: Boilermakers head to bye seeking answers
After playing at Nebraska, finishes at Michigan, vs. Minnesota, at Northwestern and vs. Indiana.
Purdue has lost several key players to season-ending injuries: OT Marcus Mbow (ankle); TE Max Klare (ankle) and CB Marquis Wilson (wrist). WR Jahmal Edrine (knee) was lost before the season even started, and TE Paul Piferi (back) hasn’t played all year, either. And last Saturday, the staff saw OT Mahamane Moussa and G Luke Griffin go down for who knows how long.
Also missing vs. Ohio State: RB Tyrone Tracy, WR Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen and K Ben Freehill, who has missed four games.
Top 10
- 1New
Deion Sanders
Prime would take Cowboys job
- 2Hot
Bill Belichick contract
UNC coach still not signed
- 3
FSU, Pitt scuffle
ACC ugliness postgame
- 4Trending
OSU dismisses DE
TikTok star off team before natty
- 5
CFB Hall of Fame
2025 class announced
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
QB Hudson Card has been battered and bruised, too. The respite will help No. 1, and others, convalesce.
“We just got to do our job and do it to the best of our ability,” said Card. “I’m confident in the staff and I’m confident with the guys in this room still. I have all the belief in the world in them and I know we’re gonna get better. That’s the mindset going into it.”
Purdue will practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while lifting on Friday.
“This bye week is coming at the right time,” said Walters. “We’ll have a five-game stretch where I feel like we can go compete and get some wins. We desperately need them.
“Everybody obviously is disappointed at where we are right now, but I don’t think anybody is defeated. And we got a tight knit group, especially those seniors that we want to try to get to postseason play. And so that will be our our driving motivation and our focus to get better and give them the opportunity to play in the postseason.”
