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Omar Cooper Jr injury in Big Ten Championship not 'expected to be anything' that will impact Indiana's College Football Playoff run

headshotby: Alec Lasley9 hours agoallasley

Indiana football is coming off of winning the Big Ten Championship over Ohio State but had some injury concerns following the win.

On Sunday afternoon, however, Curt Cignetti said that there wasn’t long-term concern over wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

“Omar, we’ll know a little bit more as we go. We don’t expect it to be anything,” Cignetti said. “We don’t think there was anything that happened in the game that will affect our next game.”

Cooper suffered a leg injury on the first possession of the Big Ten Championship on Saturday after falling awkwardly after an incomplete pass just eight snaps into the game.

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Cooper was in the injury tent for most of the first quarter and eventually made his was back to the sideline where he was seen doing different mobility tests and stretches. He spent a few minutes sitting with trainers before going back in the injury tent.

He would eventually head into the locker room and when he returned, he sat on the sidelines without his helmet out for the remainder of the game.

Cooper has been one of the top receivers in all of college football this year, entering Saturday’s game with 58 receptions for 804 yards and a tie for the Big Ten lead with 11 receiving touchdowns.

Cooper was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection this season.

“I think Cooper, with another year of maturity, has just become more consistent,” Cignetti said earlier this year. “There’s still improvements to be made, like everybody else on the team … But he’s an explosive player. He’s good after the catch, hard to tackle. He just keeps getting better and better. I think it’s all in front of him. I really do. I’ve seen a lot of growth in Omar, and I’ve always been really impressed with his upside since the first spring after I got to watch him a few times and saw his explosion and suddenness.”

Indiana heads into the College Football Playoff as the one-seed and will receive a first-round bye next week.

The Hoosiers will face off against the winner of the No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.

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