Burkhead's Status Unknown for Saturday - News, Weather and Sports for Lincoln, NE; KLKNTV.com

Posted by: Matt Lothrop

mlothrop@klkntv.com

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said  senior running back Rex Burkhead is day–to–day, and as of now he will make the travel roster to Pasadena, California for Saturday's game against UCLA. 

Burkhead's status for that game however remains unknown.

An MRI on Sunday confirmed what was initially diagnosed, a sprained MCL of the least severe variety. The injury won't require surgery, though a Grade I sprain can still take a few weeks to fully heal.

Burkhead took just three carries in the season opening win before the medical staff ruled him out.

If he's not able to play this weekend, don't expect Nebraska's game plan to change at all.

"I'm very comfortable," sophomore running back Ameer Abdullah said. "We practiced every day in fall camp and the spring to prepare for that just incase someone goes down. I don't want any slack to be let off."

Abdullah is expected to start if Burkhead is unable to play.

"I mean we see each other every day," Abdullah said. "We worked out pretty much, virtually every day, you know just working on the little things, foot work you know things like that. Being around him I picked up a lot of things from him. I'm very grateful."

"We've been practicing like this all of the off season," quarterback Taylor Martinez said.  "If Rex is hurt, we know Ameer, Braylon (Heard), and Imani (Cross), and (Mike) Marrow they're all great tail backs so there's really not a skip I guess."
 
"We have a lot of confidence in those backs," Coach Pelini said. "Talented guys we got. I like how they played, how they responded. They had a really good day."