• Photo Showcase: Nebraska's Wednesday football practice
• Video Below: See the Bo Pelini interview and practice highlights
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LINCOLN — Nebraska will be practicing without its top cornerback for at least the next few days because of an injury that coach Bo Pelini categorized as a short-term ailment.
Senior Alfonzo Dennard, the most experienced and most talented member of the secondary, has been sidelined since he suffered a pulled leg muscle in practice earlier this week. His absence is sure to magnify the importance of developing backups at the position.
It's unclear how long it will take him to recover, Pelini said.
“I don't know when he's going to be back,” Pelini said after practice Wednesday morning. “It could be two days, it could be 10 days. I don't know. I don't think the trainers know. I don't think anybody knows. It's just how quickly his leg responds.”
Nebraska is 16 days from its opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga on Sept. 3, so there is a chance Dennard could return by then. If not, the Huskers should have enough candidates to find a replacement.
Andrew Green still has some improvements to make, but Pelini said the sophomore has been playing “pretty physical” lately. Redshirt freshman Josh Mitchell had a productive spring, and he has continued to improve. Same goes for sophomore Dijon Washington, Pelini said. Junior Antonio Bell also is believed to be in the mix.
“I think this gives us an opportunity with 'Fonzo out to really evaluate these young corners,” Pelini said. “I think they're stepping up, they're getting better. And they're going to keep getting better each day. I'm pretty happy with their progress right now.”
Pelini's defensive philosophy is reliant on talented cornerbacks who can man up with wide receivers without getting exposed in single coverage.
Sophomore Ciante Evans proved that he could hold his ground last year, when he subbed for Dennard against Missouri and Iowa State.
Since then, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Evans has emerged as the top candidate to start opposite Dennard at corner. So until Dennard heals, NU is searching for another guy to emerge.
“Any good defenses, you've got to have good corners,” Pelini said. “I think we have that. I feel pretty good about who we have lined up out there.”
However, on the other side of the ball for the Huskers, there doesn't appear to be as much certainty regarding an important injury-plagued unit.
Nebraska has been forced to mix and match on its offensive line as it waits for players to get back to full strength.
Four offensive linemen — senior Marcel Jones, sophomore Jeremiah Sirles, sophomore Brent Qvale and freshman Ryne Reeves — missed Wednesday's practices.
Plus, it was announced at the start of camp that likely redshirt candidate Givens Price, a freshman offensive lineman, would miss at least the first few weeks of practice with an undisclosed injury.
Pelini said he expects Jones back in action “pretty soon.” Sirles, a starter at left tackle last season, is “probably about a week” from returning to the field, Pelini said.
Qvale and Reeves are day to day. Qvale and Sirles had their right legs wrapped as Wednesday morning's practice got under way.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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• Video: Bo Pelini talks with the media after practice:
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• Video: Wednesday's Nebraska football practice highlights:
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