This page will be updated throughout the day as more updates become available. The final availability report is released two hours prior to kick-off.
Turbo Richard has been an electric playmaker for the Indiana Hoosiers so far this season. Richard transferred to IU via Boston College in the offseason, and has already made a huge impact over the course of his first four games as a Hoosier.
A glaring Indiana weakness will be put to the test in Week 5 against Rutgers
However, Richard went down with a lower body injury last Friday night against Northwestern. The injury occurred in the 2nd quarter after Richard had collected 68 yards on 9 carries to start the game. After hobbling off the field, Richard was unable to return. His injury was later specified to be a high ankle sprain, and he was listed as day-to-day by Curt Cignetti earlier this week.
Turbo Richard still faces injury designation heading into Week 5
Richard still has an injury designation on the latest Big Ten availability report for Week 5. He is listed as probable, which is a good sign, but he has not yet been given the green light. It seems that Cignetti and his staff are optimistic about Richard returning to the field on Saturday night, but nothing is set in stone at this time.
3 bold predictions that will define Indiana’s Week 5 matchup vs. Rutgers
If Richard is unable to go, it would really put Indiana's backfield in a tough spot. The Hoosiers began the season with a three-headed rushing attack consisting of Richard, Martin, and Beebe. But now that depth is being seriously tested.
Khobie Martin remains sidelined with a broken forearm he suffered in Week 1, and he has already been ruled out for this contest. Lee Beebe Jr surprisingly popped up on the Week 5 injury report earlier this week, as did Sean Cuono. They are both currently listed as questionable. That means that Indiana's top-four running backs all have some sort of injury designation heading into the Rutgers game. That is extremely worrisome.
Here is a look at Indiana's current RB injury report.
Indiana RB Week 5 Injury Report
Khobie Martin - OUT
Lee Beebe Jr. - Questionable
Sean Cuono - Questionable
Turbo Richard - Probable
Richard has emerged as Indiana's clear RB1, as he's racked up 383 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns while averaging an eye-popping 7.7 yards per carry. Beebe stepped up in a major way with Richard unavailable against Northwestern. In total, Beebe ran for 203 yards and 8.5 yards per rush to propel the Hoosiers to a hard-fought victory. If both Richard and Beebe are able to suit up, it would make Hoosier fans breath a big sigh of relief. Anything different could put the Hoosiers in a tricky situation.
4 Hoosiers ruled out for Rutgers game
Along with Martin, DB Carson Williams, CB AJ Harris, WR Lebon Bond, and DL Daniel Ndukwe have all been officially ruled out for Saturday night. LB Rolijah Hardy is listed as probable along with Richard. Kick-off between the Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights is set for 8 p.m. ET.
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