The Illinois Fighting Illini are dealing with significant injury concerns following their tough loss to No. 1 Oregon, in which they lost six players, most of them key starters. Wide receiver Pat Bryant suffered a head injury from a serious helmet-to-helmet hit late in the game, which went unpenalized as no targeting call was made against Oregon. On Monday, head coach Bret Bielema voiced his frustration with the NCAA’s lack of clarity on targeting rules, particularly concerning his duty to protect his players. “If Bryant’s dad called me, that’s who I care about answering to — I don’t give a s*** about anybody else,” Bielema said.
While Bryant is not guaranteed to clear protocol in time for Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Gophers, who are riding a three-game winning streak, he is optimistic about his return. “[Bryant] literally told me [Sunday], there’s no chance he’s not playing in the game,” Bielema noted.
Pat Bryant
Illinois also saw defensive players Torrie Cox, Kaleb Patterson, Tyler Strain, and Joe Barna go down with injuries. Barna is expected to be ready for Saturday. Texas transfer Terrance Brooks, who had a slow start this season, is anticipated back in practice by Thursday. Patterson, dealing with a soft tissue injury, should also return to practice Thursday. Cox is on track with his concussion protocol and may practice later in the week, while Strain’s return is still uncertain, though he remains positive about his recovery.
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