Mickey Joseph updates injury to Kevin Williams, names Ethan Piper new starter

Nebraska will be without starting left guard Kevin Williams for an extended period with a high ankle sprain, according to interim head coach Mickey Joseph. While Williams is sidelined, Ethan Piper will start in his place on the left side.

Williams had surgery for the injury, Joseph said, and will be out for two to three more weeks.

“Piper will start at left guard. Kevin had surgery, high ankle sprain, he had surgery. So he’ll be out, two to three more weeks,” Joseph said.

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Nebraska hosts Indiana before playing at Rutgers (on a Friday) and then at Purdue before having a second week off on Oct. 22 — that comes by virtue of having played on Week 0. The additional week off after the upcoming three-game stretch could be a good time to bring Williams back, giving him plenty of time to be in good shape.

In his stead, Piper will be asked to hold up. The redshirt sophomore was a three-star recruit in 2019 according to the On3 Consensus player rankings. He was the fifth overall recruit out of Nebraska.

Despite the 1-3 start to the season, Nebraska’s run game has been alright, ranking 35th nationally. The Cornhuskers are averaging nearly 200 yards a game on the ground and have 12 rushing touchdowns.

The pass protection has been far more suspect so far, as Nebraska ranks in the 100s in sacks allowed with 11 through four games.

For Joseph, it’s all about getting the best group possible out there up front.

“But at the end of the day, the ball is going to kick off Saturday so we gotta get our best five on the field,” Joseph said.