Purdue is likely to continue to be without defensive backs Brandon Roberts and David Rose, after the two missed Saturday’s game for what was then described “personal conduct” reasons.

Parker says there’s “no change in status right now.”

“Still stuff that's going on internally and we're going to deal with it and see where it goes this week,” the interim coach said. “But no change that we can speak of or anything that we can put out there right now, exactly. Don't know yet.”

The same answer holds for Martesse Patterson, Purdue’s starting left tackle who has been out since the Cincinnati game on Sept. 10. Patterson was arrested on Sept. 28 for an earlier incident involving a former teammate and current Purdue student; he was charged with battery.

But Patterson’s issues aren’t only legal, but university-related, as well.

“Honestly, it’s both, if that makes any sense,” Parker said during the Big Ten media teleconference. “It’s a both deal, and a lot of it is out of our hands. We’re just trying to factor along to see where it goes.”

Cameron Cermin has started the last two games in Patterson’s place, after Jalen Neal was the starter in the first two Saturdays. Antonio Blackmon played nickel in Robert’s place vs. Iowa, while Rose has been a reserve this season, playing significantly late vs. Illinois two weeks ago but getting little playing time otherwise.

Purdue has a couple of significant injuries, most notably to linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (ankle) and defensive tackle Jake Replogle (headaches), but don’t look for new information.

Parker isn’t releasing any.

“We'll keep everything with our injuries inside of us,” he said. “Both those guys are trying to get back and we'll see where they are this week.”

Cermin (ankle, lower extremity) is also nicked up, after having left Saturday’s game early. He was replaced at left tackle by redshirt freshman Mike Mendez. But considering Cermin’s history — he played the second half of last season with two bad shoulders, then the IU game with a gimpy ankle, as well — it’d seem the senior would try to go at Nebraska.

Wide receiver Domonique Young had surgery on Monday, repairing his right knee — David Blough called it “gruesome” following the Illinois game — while trying to block in Champaign.

“Came out healthy,” Parker said. “He's got a long road ahead but he's got a lot of positive things coming out of it. We're glad he's healthy. His mom came back and had a chance to see him. She's going to be with him this week.

“It's going to be a good situation for him to heal up and get back home.”

Purdue’s practices are now closed.

That’s not a change for the public — under Darrell Hazell, fans were allowed to watch spring and training camp only, but not in-season — but is for media. The last three-and-a-half years, media has been permitted to watch Tuesday and Wednesday practices, with few restrictions. Thursdays were closed.

And now they all are.

“It was me and the staff that thought it would be a good idea just to close practices, make it about us for this week, see where we're at, everybody take a collective breath this week and stuff as we get through Saturday and then make more decisions on that,” he said.

“So I hope you guys know that. It has nothing to do with that. I like the media. I've never had an issue talking with the media obviously and all those things, but for our players and coaches and all those things we wanted to close things up, close the fence up a little bit if you will and see if we could put something together this week that will make everybody feel a little bit better.”

Purdue also is selecting only a couple players to be available following Tuesday's and Wednesday’s practices, rather than multiple players and assistant coaches, which had been custom.

Purdue's making a bit of a coaching adjustment, an effort to bring another assistant onto the field for game days.

John Nussman, who has served in an offensive analysis after the previous two years as a graduate assistant, will move onto the field.

"He's been around here a long time," Parker said, "and has done a great job for us as a graduate assistant and now in his role just working on the offensive side of things off the field.

"With that spot open and him being here the longest, getting another set of hands on the field to help us with special teams, anything we need on the field."

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