Matt Rhule speculates Marques Buford could return around Week 5 or 6

Nebraska will likely be without corner back Marques Buford until at least mid-season, head coach Matt Rhule said on Friday. The defensive back has been out since getting carted off the field during a November game against Wisconsin last year.

Coming up on the 2023 season, Buford is still working his way back. And Rhule has no desire to rush the cornerback into action again.

“The big thing with us, because this is his second time having a major injury, we just don’t want to rush him back. We kind of communicated with the family early on, and him, ‘Hey, we’re going to put you out there when you’re ready but not a day too early,'” Rhule said. “So, he, according to the doctors, had a significant jump just this past week. So he’s beginning, going to hopefully begin to progress into on-the-field work.

“I think right now, I wouldn’t look for him any time soon on the field. I think it’s more a of a, maybe Week 5? Maybe Week 6? If not, maybe it’s the last four games of the year and he redshirts this year and plays for two years.”

Rhule would rather sit tight and be patient with Buford’s injury for a number of reasons. First and foremost, he and his staff want to prioritize letting Buford come back to play when he should rather than just when he could come back to play.

Secondly, as someone with NFL potential, Rhule wants to give Buford the best chance to put down good tape — much more feasibly done at full health.

“Either way, our responsibility is to make sure he comes back — there’s a big difference between letting guys come back when they can come back or when they should come back. And we want them to come back when he should come back, cause he has — he’s got pro potential and I want to make sure he’s healthy,” Rhule said. 

Rhule updated the status on transfer Arik Gilbert, too

The Georgia Bulldogs transfer tight end’s waiver has yet to be cleared from the NCAA, and with just weeks before the season’s start, time is running out for a decision to be made before the 2023 season. On Friday, Rhule explained his thoughts on the matter, and added that it hasn’t been a straightforward process.

“It’s still in progress. We’re hoping that before we head to Minnesota there will be some finality on it. There’s obviously been some twist and turns, with things going back and forth,” Rhule said. “Out of respect for Arik, I’m not going to broadcast all those different things. But there’s still just — looking for some finality, and everyone’s working hard to get it done.”