Rutgers and Purdue both will seek their first Big Ten Conference win of the season when they clash Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue (2-5, 0-4) will face a defense that ranks last in the conference in average yards allowed per game (437.4) but could be without starting quarterback Ryan Browne.
Browne sustained a shoulder injury on the first play of the second half in last week’s 19-0 loss at Northwestern and did not return. He participated in Monday’s practice, but Boilermakers coach Barry Odom said the injury will need to improve for Browne to play Saturday.
“After today, I would say he’d be doubtful,” Odom said. “There’s a difference between practice, and no-contact, and executing a game plan. So we have to train multiple quarterbacks, which we will. … But at this point, he would be doubtful based on where we are in the game plan.”
Through seven games, Browne has thrown for 1,572 yards and seven touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He has rushed for 163 yards and four TDs and also caught a touchdown pass.
Backup Malachi Singleton replaced Browne against Northwestern and completed 11 of 20 passes for 187 yards. He was intercepted once and rushed for 20 yards on 10 carries.
Rutgers (3-4, 0-4) surrendered 750 yards (415 rushing) in last week’s 56-10 home loss to then-No. 8 Oregon. The Scarlet Knights, who have lost four straight games, are allowing an average of 31.6 points per game this season.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said Tuesday that defensive changes will be made but declined to get into specifics.
“There’s a lot of stuff that we’re working on, but that’ll be internal,” Schiano said. “Unless you do something officially, I don’t like to share stuff that we do internally.
“It’s my job to make sure we get better on defense. (The Oregon game) was not good enough, obviously. So whether I’m involved or not involved, I better make sure it gets fixed.”
Purdue has lost five games in a row overall and will try to end a 13-game losing streak against Big Ten opponents.
“I do believe with very strong conviction we’re eventually gonna break down this wall where winning is on the other side,” Odom said.
