Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its week of preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten conference matchup with Minnesota on Tuesday afternoon. The team practiced in full pads for just over two hours inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields.
Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck addressed the media after practice, beginning with the status of senior quarterback Taylor Martinez.
“He’s doing what he can do right now, and we’re just easing him back into things,” Beck said. “If he needs a break, we give him a break. It’s a day-to-day, period-to-period deal.”
Martinez has made a school-record 42 starts at quarterback for Nebraska, but he has missed the last three games due to a turf toe injury. Beck commented on the effect that missed time has had on Martinez.
“There’s a little bit of rust with (Taylor Martinez), but he still sees things well,” Beck said. “He’s a veteran player and he sees defenses well. He knows where he needs to go with the ball. He’s just getting the cobwebs out a little bit.”
Martinez is just four touchdowns away from tying Eric Crouch’s school-record 90 career touchdowns. However, the effect of his absence has been reduced by the stellar play of freshman Tommy Armstrong, who has thrown for 347 yards and three touchdowns in three starts. On Tuesday Beck also addressed the possibility of having multiple quarterbacks see action for the fourth straight game.
“I think both (Tommy Armstrong) and (Taylor Martinez) have earned the right to play, but you can only play one guy at a time” Beck said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, but we’re going to play the best guy, the healthiest guy and the guy that’s going to help us win.”
Martinez isn’t the only Husker who has missed time with injury. Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award Watch List offensive lineman Spencer Long lost his season to injury against Purdue, leaving Nebraska with a hole to fill up front. Beck mentioned how the team has gone about replacing one of its standout performers in the trenches.
“Mike Moudy filled in and played pretty well for us,” Beck said. “Right now Mike’s in that position. We’re using Ryne Reeves and Givens Price behind those guys right now, and they’ve been doing a good job.”
Nebraska will hit the practice field again on Wednesday as the team moves closer to its third conference game of the season. NU will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN/WatchESPN.