Running back Damien Anderson said Monday that he will sit out Saturday’s game against Iowa while he recovers from a dislocated shoulder he suffered early in the second half of last Saturday’s game at Indiana.
Anderson and Northwestern’s coaching staff were uncertain about when he would return.
With his injured arm cradled in a sling under his pullover, Anderson said doctors were keeping him on the sideline to avoid further injury.
“If needed, I would be able to play this Saturday, ” Anderson said. “As far as the extent of the injury, I don’t know. Right now, I’m just sore.”
NU coach Randy Walker was uncertain if Anderson would be back this season.
“It would be premature to say,” Walker said, “I have a sense, but I would rather have a test confirm or deny what we think. We don’t know for sure.”
Anderson has 757 yards rushing and eight touchdowns through the team’s first eight games, but he hasn’t run for 100 yards in any of NU’s six Big Ten contests.
Last season, Anderson finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting and had 2,063 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns.
Quarterback Zak Kustok said losing Anderson will send ripples through the Cats’ offense.
“Everybody on offense is going to have to pick up their game,” Kustok said. “The offensive line is going to step up — as hard as they have blocked, they are going to have to block harder. And as hard as I have played, I’m going to have to played even harder. Receivers — same thing.”
Anderson left Saturday’s game after the first play of the second half when Indiana cornerback Jodie Clemens tackled him on a 5-yard gain. Anderson struggled to get up but walked off the field.
He was then examined by trainers in the locker room for the remainder of the third quarter. The trainers indicated to Walker that Anderson’s mobility would be limited.
“Quite frankly, I’m for finding out what’s wrong, how significant this is and what it means to his future as a football player,” Walker said. “I know there is a great likelihood of him being at risk if he goes out and plays this week. It’s not worth it.”
Tailback Kevin Lawrence, who rushed for 77 yards against the Hoosiers, will make his first career start Saturday. Walker also hinted that freshman Noah Herron and sophomore Torri Stuckey might see more action at running back in Anderson’s absence. Both Anderson and Walker expressed confidence in the ability of the backups.
“I wouldn’t be sitting out if I knew the team wasn’t prepared for something like this,” Anderson said. “Obviously, we’ve got some good guys in the backfield who can make some positive plays.”
Almost as disappointing as Anderson’s departure was the game in which it took place. Walker did everything but crack open a textbook to describe the breakdowns by his team on the both sides of the ball in Saturday’s 56-21 loss.
“The elements that continue to concern me are as blatant and obvious as anything you’ve ever come across,” Walker said. “It comes down to this. Every program I’ve ever been associated with wins the turnover ratio. They stop the run. And they can rush the football. And they play well in the red zone.”
Responsibility for the loss has been juggled lightly by the Cats’ coaches and players. After Saturday’s game, linebacker Billy Silva and defensive end Napoleon Harris said the NU defense had prepared for an option-heavy offense from Indiana — and was shaken by quarterback Antwaan Randle El’s more dynamic attack.
But Walker placed the blame right back on his players Monday, asserting that NU (4-4, 2-4 Big Ten) should have been ready for any scheme that the Hoosiers presented.
“If you watched any film on these guys, you knew they did more than run option football,” Walker said. “We put a premium on stopping the option — I’m not going to deny that. But by the same token, I don’t think our planning was outrageous. We knew we weren’t playing an option-only football team — we knew they were very conventional in some ways.”
