Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez missed practice on Tuesday due to a bout of turf toe.
Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini said Martinez had a boot on his left foot the last couple days because of it and that his status for Saturday’s game with South Dakota State was in question as a result.
Pelini said “we’re going to make sure he’s 100 percent and feeling good” but that Martinez would play if he was healthy.
Martinez is off to a good start as a passer this year, completing 66 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and just one interception. His running numbers aren’t quite up to par -- he’s got 32 carries for 101 yards so far -- but that could be in large part due to his injury.
Either redshirt freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr. or senior Ron Kellogg would get the start against the Jackrabbits if Martinez can’t play. Kellogg has thrown five passes this year, completing four of them for 24 yards. He was four of nine for 22 yards with a touchdown pass and an interceptions in 2012. Armstrong is a highly-regarded dual-threat quarterback out of Texas who is very much in the Martinez mold.
This might be a good time for Nebraska to start getting Armstrong -- widely considered to be the next Husker starting QB -- some quality minutes so he doesn’t enter next season completely bereft of experience.