More Nevada coverage: QB Blough has new mindset, D needs to stop run | Coordinator's corner: Terry Malone ($)

By the end of Wednesday's practice, Purdue had Jalen Neal at left tackle and Cameron Cermin at right tackle with the starting unit.

That's not the look the Boilermakers have shown over the first two games, but it could be what shows up Saturday against Nevada.

Starters Martesse Patterson and Matt McCann weren't participating late with the first-team unit for different reasons. McCann, the redshirt freshman first-year starting right tackle, rolled his right ankle in practice and had to be carted off the field. Coach Darrell Hazell said McCann got "pictures" of the foot but didn't have the results immediately following practice when he spoke with reporters. After practicing with the first-team offense per usual Tuesday before getting hurt late, starting left tackle Patterson was on the field Wednesday healthy but with the second-team offense.

"He’s going through some personal things that we’re not going to talk about right now. We’ll figure it out," Hazell said after Wednesday's practice.

Hazell wouldn't say if Patterson would be available to play Saturday. He only said Patterson had to "work through some things."

So there's potential Purdue will have Cermin, who has started 20 career games but has only played a handful of offensive snaps this season, and JUCO transfer Neal on the field a lot against the Wolf Pack.

"Cerm’s been out on the field a lot for us. Obviously, Jalen hasn’t been," Hazell said. "He’s got to step up. That’s what it’s all about. We’ll see what happens here in the next 48 hours or so."

At the end of Wednesday practice, Purdue ran its typical mid-week offense vs. defense two-minute drill. Starting QB David Blough was "sacked" on second down as the pocket collapsed and had to scramble to evade pressure on another play. But, ultimately, the offense got in field position in only 35 seconds to kick a go-ahead/game-winning 49-yard field goal on its last play.

"Those guys will step in and do what we brought them here to do, Jalen and Cermin," Blough said. "Who knows with the other two guys what will happen? Doesn’t change anything for me. I’m just going to play my game. If somebody gets free or we miss something, we’ll make them right back there."

• In other injury news, Hazell said he expects cornerback Da'Wan Hunte and defensive end Austin Larkin, both of whom missed the first two games with ankle injuries, to play Saturday. It's likely neither will get a ton of snaps — Hazell's goal for Larkin was 15-20 — but it'll be important for Purdue to work those starters back into the defense with Big Ten play beginning soon.

Backup receiver Jarrett Burgess is out at least four weeks after he "messed up" his thumb last week on a pass from big-armed Elijah Sindelar.

Freshman receiver Benaiah Franklin is in a boot because he had surgery to fix an issue with his toes, Hazell said, and will have another surgery later on the other foot. Franklin, who'd broken a couple fingers earlier this year, is redshirting.

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