Jeff Brohm updates status of RB Devin Mockobee and other injured Purdue players
If Purdue is going to retain the Old Oaken Bucket, it may have to do so without its top running back.
Devin Mockobee is in concussion protocol after sustaining a big hit in the first series of last Saturday’s 19-7 win vs. Northwestern. The redshirt freshman walk-on had only five carries for 18 yards when he left the game. Mockobee paces the Boilermakers with 750 yards rushing on 150 carries with seven TDs. He also has made 18 catches for 159 yards.
“Devin, unfortunately, got dinged early in the game and he’s going through the protocol you have to go through,” said Boilermaker coach Jeff Brohm. “I don’t know, you know, what the status of him will be come game time. We’ll hopefully see later in the week.”
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With Mockobee out, Purdue turned to junior Dylan Downing and redshirt junior Central Michigan transfer Kobe Lewis to carry the load vs. Northwestern. Downing led the team with 49 yards on 17 carries, while Lewis had 42 yards on 11 totes. Lewis enjoyed his most productive day as a Boilermaker, leading the team with 97 all-purpose yards by adding 26 receiving and 29 kickoff return yards to his 42 rush yards.
This is certain: Purdue will be without No 1 center Gus Hartwig, who sustained what’s believed to be a knee injury vs. Northwestern. The junior is done for the season. Purdue will turn to redshirt sophomore Josh Kaltenberger to snap on Saturday after he took over for Hartwig last Saturday.
“Gus suffered a substantial injury,” said Brohm. “Be in a cast on his lower extremity for the next couple weeks and have surgery and be out for an extended period. So, we appreciate all the great play he’s given us to this point and all the hard work, because he has played through a lot of other injuries, as well.
“He was a leader of our offensive line, a great snapper, smart, tough, an in-state recruit that came and wanted to make a difference. Unfortunately, he got rolled up during the game and got injured. So, we’ll get him back healthy, but it will take quite a bit of time.”
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Brohm also wasn’t optimistic about defensive tackle Branson Deen playing at Indiana. The fifth-year senior missed the Northwestern game after suffering what’s believed to be a high ankle sprain at Illinois.
“More than likely (he will) not (play), but we’ll see as the week goes on,” said Brohm.
Deen is Purdue’s best tackle. Look for redshirt juniors Prince Boyd and Sulaiman Kpaka to play alongside fifth-year senior nose tackle Lawrence Johnson.
The status of MIKE linebacker Kieren Douglas is murky. He played with a brace on a banged-up right knee on Saturday, leading the team with seven tackles. This, after being a game-time decision last week after hurting the knee at Illinois on Nov. 12.
“Not many people would play with what he has,” said Brohm. “He came out as good as you can come out. Yes, he’s very, very sore, and we will get him as healthy as we can come game time.
“I’m going to assume he’s going to go unless something comes up without a lot of practice.”
