Nebraska has been without its long-time starting quarterback since mid-September. In the midst of mid-October, that could change in short order.
While Taylor Martinez was still sidelined from practice and still wearing a boot on his injured foot Wednesday, Bo Pelini appeared more confident than he has the past couple of weeks that the senior is on the verge of a return.
“I think he’s really close,” Pelini said following practice Wednesday. “Yeah, I am,” the coach added when asked if he was optimistic Martinez would be available for the Cornhuskers’ game against Minnesota Saturday.
Martinez suffered what was later diagnosed as a turf toe injury in the Oct. 14 loss to UCLA. and has not played since. The injury has kept Martinez out of the past three games, all of which have been wins by at least 20 points.
Replacing Martinez has been the combination of freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr. and senior Ron Kellogg III.