Sindelar 'nicked up' but will try to go Saturday; Sparks waiting, ready
Elijah Sindelar had a different look in the second half of Purdue's game last Saturday at Northwestern.
One of his bright white socks was covered up with a clanky knee brace.
Sindelar appeared to tweak his left knee on a second-quarter play against the Wildcats, and perhaps that's the reason he wasn't able to practice Tuesday this week and has some uncertainty surrounding his available for Saturday's game at Iowa.
Sindelar returned to practice Wednesday and Thursday, Coach Jeff Brohm said Thursday, and the first-year coach is hopeful his starting quarterback — who has that job back because David Blough is out after season-ending surgery — will play.
Sindelar didn't miss an injury-related snap last week and finished 37-of-60 with nearly 400 yards.
"I think he’s going to give it a go and try to go on Saturday," Brohm said. "He got nicked up in the last game, and we’ve been getting it treated all week. I think he feels ready to go and anticipating the game on Saturday."
Quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-quarterback Jared Sparks said earlier in the week he took first-team snaps with the offense at quarterback. Brohm said Sparks continued to work both positions this week — considering Sparks is coming off an 11-catch, 130-yard game, that'd seem wise — but admitted Sparks' game plan at quarterback is a bit heftier than it has been.
Brohm said it's a "possibility for sure" that Sparks could attempt his first pass of the season against the Hawkeyes. When Sparks has played quarterback previously this season, he's only run the ball.
"Probably Wednesday was his best practice. He did a very good job throwing the football and making some plays for us," Brohm said. "He’s a guy who will get streaky and hot, and hopefully he’s hot and feeling good. Really it’s about getting him some confidence, some completions and go from there."
Sindelar's availability may be Purdue's most significant injury question, but it's not the only important one.
Brohm said starting running back Richie Worship is questionable for the game after suffering an undisclosed injury during practice this week. Worship is averaging 4.8 yards per carry this season and has had a couple key performances during Big Ten play.
"We’ll see how it plays out," Brohm said about Worship.
Purdue already is down a running back with Tario Fuller out and scheduled to have surgery next week. That'd leave D.J. Knox, who is the team's leading rusher, and Markell Jones as the likely 1-2 punch. It's one with a history for the Boilermakers, as both backs have been good in the past.
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