Matt McCann had his injured right foot protected by a walking boot Saturday, taking every opportunity he could to plop on the bench and elevate it during Purdue's 24-14 victory over Nevada.
Martesse Patterson wasn't even at Purdue's game.
Those situations may not change this weekend.
It seems likely the Boilermakers will start Big Ten play Saturday at Maryland without their two starting offensive tackles.
On Monday, Darrell Hazell told three local reporters that McCann is "very questionable" for Saturday while still recovering from an ankle injury initially suffered last Wednesday. Patterson's status is less definitive. Hazell wouldn't say if the sophomore left tackle is suspended, even though Patterson wasn't around Saturday, or if Patterson will be available against the Terrapins.
"We are taking care of matters day-by-day right now," Hazell said.
Hazell didn't offer any more details.
But, for one game at least, Purdue was able to hold up on the O-line despite those two starters missing.
Fifth-year senior Cameron Cermin and JUCO transfer Jalen Neal played every snap at right and left tackle. Quarterback David Blough was sacked once, the first time this season, when he had to step up in the pocket after pressure from Cermin's right side and then was chased down. Generally, though, Blough did a good job of escaping the pocket on a handful of other instances when he got pressure, usually off Neal's left side.
"I thought Cerm did a good job," Hazell said Monday. "He could be better on a couple plays, but I thought he did a good job for not being out there that much (this season). We have to just keep Jalen coming. He could be a little bit better but first time out there."
Hazell said there has been no consideration to moving Cermin to the left side and Neal to the right. Cermin and Neal have switched and played both spots during practice. If neither McCann nor Patterson is available Saturday and something would happen to either Cermin or Neal, Hazell said right guard Jordan Roos would move to whichever tackle spot and redshirt freshman Mike Mendez would fill in for Roos. Walk-on Eric Swingler, who tore his ACL last spring, also has been cleared and is available.
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