It sounds like there is still a chance Indiana starting linebacker Cam Jones will see the field before his eligibility runs out at the end of the month.
But it won’t happen on Saturday when the Hoosiers face Penn State.
Jones suffered a foot injury during the Nebraska game and hasn’t played since.
On his radio show Wednesday evening, IU head coach Tom Allen said that while he doesn’t expect the Memphis, Tenn. product to return this Saturday, the outlook has improved.
“He’s still working through it, but don’t expect him this week,” Allen said. “But he is getting closer, which is great. We got good news from his doctor from his checkup over the bye week.”
A three-year captain, Jones was the Big Ten’s leading tackler through five weeks.
Jones started all five games and logged his first career double-digit tackle game with 12 stops against Illinois. He has 54 tackles on the season.
In Jones’ absence, Aaron Casey has moved over to the stinger linebacker spot, and Bradley Jennings has been starting at the mike.
Beyond Jones, IU doesn’t have many players on its two-deep depth chart who are dealing with known injuries going into Saturday’s contest against the Nittany Lions. Starting cornerback Jaylin Williams returned against Rutgers two weeks ago, as did starting tight end A.J. Barner.
Backup safety Josh Sanguinetti missed the Rutgers game. His status is unknown.
Allen said defensive end Beau Robbins, who missed the Rutgers game, should be back for Penn State.
Offensive tackle Matthew Bedford and wide receiver Cam Camper are out for the season with knee injuries.
Coming out of the bye week, here is the week nine depth chart released by Indiana:
OFFENSE
LT
70 Luke Haggard 6-7 305 Sr.+
77 Joshua Sales Jr. 6-6 311 Fr.-R
LG
50 Zach Carpenter 6-5 305 Jr.-R
53 Vinny Fiacable 6-4 308 Fr.-R
C
56 Mike Katic 6-4 310 Jr.-R
62 Cameron Knight 6-3 295 So.-R
55 Caleb Murphy 6-4 295 So.-R
RG
67 Kahlil Benson 6-6 313 So.-R
73 Tim Weaver 6-6 313 Jr.-R
RT
77 Joshua Sales Jr. 6-6 311 Fr.-R
51 Parker Hanna 6-5 302 Sr.+
WR
10 Andison Coby 6-2 175 Jr.
1 Donaven McCulley 6-5 210 So.
WR
7 D.J. Matthews Jr. 5-11 160 Gr.+
0 Emery Simmons 6-1 186 Sr.
TE
88 AJ Barner 6-6 252 Jr.
48 James Bomba 6-6 251 Fr.-R
–or–
84 Aaron Steinfeldt 6-5 246 Fr.-R
WR
18 Javon Swinton 6-2 190 Jr.
19 Malachi Holt-Bennett 6-3 188 So.
QB
9 Connor Bazelak 6-3 224 Jr.-R
14 Jack Tuttle 6-4 212 Sr.-R
RB
2 Shaun Shivers 5-7 186 Sr.+
26 Josh Henderson 5-11 215 Sr.
12 Jaylin Lucas 5-9 185 Fr.
DEFENSE
DE
6 James Head Jr. 6-5 257 Sr.+
41 Beau Robbins 6-5 272 Jr.-R
10 Myles Jackson 6-2 255 So.-R
DT
94 Demarcus Elliott 6-3 315 Sr.+
47 JH Tevis 6-4 283 Sr.-R
91 LeDarrius Cox 6-4 320 Jr.-R
DT
50 Sio Nofoagatoto’a 6-3 315 Sr.
51 Patrick Lucas Jr. 6-3 322 Jr.-R
BULL
92 Alfred Bryant 6-2 250 Sr.-R+
0 Dasan McCullough 6-5 230 Fr.
LB
44 Aaron Casey 6-2 225 Sr.-R
14 Kaiden Turner 6-2 223 Fr.
4 Cam Jones 6-3 228 Sr.+
LB
5 Bradley Jennings Jr. 6-1 221 Sr.-R+
43 Matt Hohlt 6-2 222 Fr.-R
HUSKY
21 Noah Pierre 5-11 176 Sr.-R
16 Jordan Grier 6-0 199 So.
CB
23 Jaylin Williams 6-0 185 Sr.+
7 Christopher Keys 6-0 183 So.-R
S
1 Devon Matthews 6-2 206 Sr.+
19 Josh Sanguinetti 6-1 190 Jr.-R
–or–
24 Bryson Bonds 6-1 207 Jr.
S
31 Bryant Fitzgerald 6-0 206 Sr.-R+
17 Jonathan Haynes 5-11 202 Gr.+
CB
3 Tiawan Mullen 5-10 181 Sr.
9 Brylan Lanier 6-1 176 Fr.-R
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