Indiana football will close its regular season with a trip to West Lafayette to face in-state rival Purdue at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with a Big Ten championship game berth on the line.
And Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti said his squad has a pair of previously injured players slated to return: senior receiver Elijah Sarratt and sixth-year senior defensive lineman Mikail Kamara.
“We expect Kamara will start,” Cignetti said during his press conference Monday. “Sarratt will start.”
WR Sarratt’s return
Sarratt suffered a hamstring injury during Indiana’s 55-10 victory over Maryland on Nov. 1. He subsequently missed the Hoosiers’ last two games against Penn State and Wisconsin.
In Sarratt’s absence, Charlie Becker has shown he’s a viable pass catcher. Across Indiana’s last three games, the sophomore receiver has caught 13 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown.
When Cignetti was asked how he plans to balance Sarratt’s return with Becker’s recent emergence, the second-year head coach delivered a signature response.
“I guess you'll see Friday night,” he said.
DL Kamara expected to start
Kamara exited the Hoosiers’ victory over Wisconsin in the first quarter with what Cignetti described then as a “shoulder nerve stinger issue.” The Ashburn, Virginia, native — who has an extensive injury history — was a player Cignetti said needed rest and to get away for the bye week.
Now, Kamara will make his return to the lineup against the Boilermakers.
LG Evans’ status unclear
Junior left guard Drew Evans suffered an undisclosed ailment ahead of the Hoosiers’ win against Maryland and has missed the last three games.
Senior offensive lineman Zen Michalski slotted into Evans’ role Nov. 1. But over the last two contests, redshirt freshman Adedamola Ajani has since stepped in as Indiana’s left guard.
“Drew Evans, we'll know more today (Monday),” Cignetti said, “and him and the rest of them are working hard to get back on the field.”
Indiana “refreshed” against of Old Oaken Bucket Game
The Hoosiers have just one game left in their regular season, as they aim to go 12-0. And they’re coming off what Cignetti said was a “much-needed” bye week.
“I think everybody that's playing is banged up, and I think the entire organization was a little tired,” Cignetti said. “I could feel it, sense it, Penn State week and Wisconsin week, so I think it came at a really good time.”
Indiana hasn’t beaten Purdue in its last two trips to Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. The Hoosiers will aim to change that in their first road contest against Purdue under Cignetti.
“Everybody seems to be refreshed,” Cignetti said. “There was a lot of spirit at practice yesterday, and I can tell in the office everybody is rested up, so it's a good thing.”
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
