Nebraska WR Marcus Washington out for season; Huskers offense takes another hit

LINCOLN, Neb. —  Wide receiver Marcus Washington is done for the season at Nebraska, coach Matt Rhule said Tuesday, after the senior suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last week against Illinois. The setback pushes a group of true freshmen to the forefront.

Washington was hurt on the third play from scrimmage in the Huskers’ 20-7 victory. He caught a 39-yard pass on the second play to help Nebraska escape from its 1-yard line and score on its opening possession after a goal line stand stopped the Illini’s first drive.

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Here’s what you need to know:

• In Washington’s absence, Malachi Coleman played extensively Friday against Illinois and caught the first pass of his career for a 5-yard gain in the second quarter. The speedy, 6-foot-5 Coleman, out of Lincoln East High School, was rated as the No. 60 prospect nationally and the top signee in Rhule’s first class.
• The non-contact injury to Washington is the latest complication to impact the Nebraska offense, which ranks 122nd nationally and last in the Big Ten in scoring. The Huskers also lost projected top receivers Zavier Betts and Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda in August, tight end Arik Gilbert and top running backs Gabe Ervin and Rahmir Johnson.
• Washington transferred to Nebraska in 2022 from Texas, where he played three seasons. He caught 31 passes for 471 yards last year and eight balls for 176 this season after injuries slowed him in training camp. “I hate it for Marcus,” Rhule said, “because he’s so competitive. I think he was poised to have a really good year.”

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What does injury mean for Nebraska offense?

The Huskers must lean on senior Billy Kemp and sophomore Alex Bullock for continued leadership. Coleman joins fellow freshmen Jaidyn Doss and Jaylen Lloyd as key pieces in the rotation as the Huskers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) prepare during an off week for the second half of this season.

Lloyd has caught one pass and rushed one time this year. Doss missed most of the first half of the season with a broken arm but returned against the Illini. Nebraska called a reverse for him, Rhule said, but it checked out of the play because of the defensive look.

“Those young guys, since the day I got here, I’ve told you, ‘Hey, they’re going to be really good,’” Rhule said. “They just have to be really good now.”

The Huskers will also rely on sophomore walk-on Ty Hahn for depth. Hahn caught the first pass of his career in Champaign, a 21-yard catch on third-and-10 to extend a drive that ended with Nebraska’s first touchdown. Tommi Hill will continue to get work at wide receiver in addition to his job at cornerback.

True freshmen Jeremiah Charles and Brice Turner, recruited to play receiver, are practicing with the defensive backs, Rhule said.

(Photo of Marcus Washington: Dylan Widger / USA Today)