Injuries at linebacker creating depth concerns for Purdue
Kieren Douglas made one of the biggest plays in Purdue’s 31-24 victory at Illinois last Saturday. Unfortunately, the sixth-year senior was injured while snagging a big interception with the Boilermakers leading 28-21 with 3:37 left in the game.
“He’s probably unlikely,” Jeff Brohm said Monday when asked if Douglas would play for Purdue (6-4 overall; 4-3 Big Ten) when Northwestern (1-9; 0-7) visits for a noon ET game on Saturday.
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Douglas was helped off the field by two people and was visibly dragging his right leg. Brohm wouldn’t reveal the injury on Monday but termed it “lower extremity.” Douglas is known to have been dealing with bad knees all season.
Not having the 6-2, 235-pound Douglas would be a big loss. He’s started nine of 10 games at MIKE linebacker, ranking No. 6 on the team with 25 tackles. Douglas calls the defense and is one of the team’s toughest players, a hard-hitter who is well-respected. If he can’t play vs. Northwestern, which features a physical running back in Evan Hull, Purdue will turn to Jacob Wahlberg to fill the MIKE role.
The 6-4, 235-pound Wahlberg has taken on an expanded role as a redshirt junior in 2022. He started the Maryland game and is No. 4 on the team in tackles with 28. Wahlberg is a heady player who knows the defense. Should something happen to him, the staff likely would turn to Semisi Fakasiieiki to play MIKE.
Fakasiieiki is a WILL linebacker by trade, backing up starter O.C. Brothers. This is Fakasiieiki’s seventh season. Brothers missed the Maryland and Nebraska games with injury but has rounded back into form as a six-game starter at WILL, a role he will man again on Saturday. The redshirt junior is the most active linebacker on the roster.
The linebacking unit took another hit on Saturday in Champaign when Clyde Washington was helped off the field in the first half. The redshirt sophomore is believed to have an ankle injury and was wearing a boot on his left leg after the game. He has played as a reserve at WILL linebacker, making 14 tackles with an interception in 2022. The 6-3, 235-pound Washington also is a key special teams player.
“Yeah, Clyde will probably be out for a while,” said Brohm. “So, yes, we are going to be thinner than we would like to be (at linebacker). We have to get some backups ready to go just in case, because that is a concern.”
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Purdue may have to turn to Ben Kreul and Yanni Karlaftis for help. Kreuel has been a special teams player in his career. The only game the redshirt sophomore has taken defensive snaps (6 total) this season is vs. Indiana State on Sept. 10. It’s unclear where the 6-3, 235-pound Kreul would play: MIKE or WILL.
Karlaftis was moved from LEO to WILL linebacker last month. He arrived on campus as a linebacker in the spring of 2021 but was moved to LEO in the spring of 2022. The 6-3, 235-pound redshirt freshman has taken defensive snaps (14 total) in only two games this season: Indiana State and at Maryland.
Senior Jalen Graham plays a unique “star” position that’s a hybrid safety/linebacker. He is more of a safety by trade, as he spends most of his practice time with that unit. Bryce Hampton backs up Graham.
