The following are notes from Jeff Brohm's press conference on Monday, as Purdue gets ready to head to Northwestern following its 29-10 win over Illinois.

• David Blough has a dislocation of his right ankle, per Brohm, with possibility a small bone break and there might be ligament damage.

He'll have surgery on Tuesday, with an expectation of a six-month rehab, give or take a couple months, according to Brohm.

"He'll miss spring ball but hopefully be back for the summer months," Brohm said. "... It's something they can fix. The rehab will take some time."

Sophomore Elijah Sindelar will start at Northwestern and the backup will be Jared Sparks. But Brohm says Sparks will continue to practice at wide receiver, where he's been the last several weeks and started the last three games.

"(We) will have to make sure he's ready to go with a small package of things (at QB offensively)," Brohm said.

Freshman Nick Sipe could be an option, will get some backup practice snaps and will travel with the team. The scenario, though, for Sipe to play would likely be a significant injury to Sindelar.

"If certain things happen, he's got to be ready to go," Brohm said. "But we'd prefer not to (take the redshirt off)."

• Blough was hit hard on the play he was injured, a play that was originally called targeting but was reversed by the replay official. Brohm said he's not yet heard back from the Big Ten office on the call.

"I didn't get a good explanation," he said, referring to the officials on the field Saturday. "The replay official replays it and said it wasn't targeting. I don't agree with it."

Blough has been hit several times this season without penalty, including the Ohio game, the Nebraska game and now Illinois. Brohm said that the Big Ten confirmed it had missed a roughing penalty on the final play vs. Nebraska, a call that, had it been whistled, would have given Purdue a 45-yard (or so) untimed field goal attempt to win.

• Brohm is hopeful that T.J. McCollum (ankle) could be back for Northwestern.

The linebacker has been out since the Minnesota game.

"I'm hopeful, but I've been hopeful before," Brohm said.

Cornerback Da'Wan Hunte (hip flexor) tried to go Saturday — he was a game-time decision — but couldn't play. Brohm said he's hopeful that Hunte could return.

Left tackle Grant Hermanns and running back Tario Fuller are out.

Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?

Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook

More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.