Matt Rhule talks Nebraska football O-line starters, injuries

The press conferences of Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule are always illuminating and Saturday’s presser ahead of the Huskers’ open practice was no different.

🎙️ Fall Camp Press Conference with @CoachMattRhule https://t.co/LSPeuRZs9W

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) August 3, 2024

Rhule said that around 3,500 tickets were sold for the event. Nebraska football isn’t allowed to do full pads just yet but Rhule said it was important “to do what we do.”

However, Rhule offered some other updates. He talked about some starters on the offensive line and also offered more updates on injuries.

Nebraska football injury updates

Jalen Lloyd, Tommi Hill, Marques Buford, and Princewill Umanmielen will be out for the scrimmage. Rhule said none of the injuries were anything to worry about “long term.”

Hill is out for load management, which sounds like rest. Lloyd has a hamstring injury though and that worries me. Those can linger and that’s the last thing the Huskers want with the season four weeks away.

Henry Lutovsky has the most serious injury. Rhule said he’ll be out 2-3 weeks and while he could return for the season opener, his chances of starting will decrease, at least in the short term. The best ability is availability.

Rhule talks about O-line starters

Earlier this week, Rhule said that Turner Corcoran was competing for the starting job at left tackle. That shed some light on the guard competition.

It felt like Justin Evan-Jenkins and Micah Mazzccua were in line to start, just based on Corcoran starting fall camp at tackle.

But on Saturday, Rhule said that Evan-Jenkins is a “starter for us” at guard and that Mazzccua is the favorite to start at the other guard spot.

It’s always possible that Corcoran bumps inside to play guard if needed or if the Huskers just feel he’s one of their best five, but as far as the UTEP game, the only job up for grabs on the O-line might be left tackle.