Like most college football teams across the country, the Indiana Hoosiers are working through several injuries as spring camp rolls along.
Most notably, star WR Charlie Becker suffered a hamstring injury last Saturday, and hasn't been able to return to the practice field since.
Curt Cignetti provided a further update on Becker's status on Thursday, and it isn't exactly what Hoosier fans wanted to hear.
Charlie Becker could miss the rest of spring practice with a hamstring injury
Becker appears to have avoided a major injury, but it seems unlikely that he returns to the field through the rest of spring camp.
“I don’t know if he’ll be back or not the rest of spring,” Cignetti said on Thursday. “And certainly, we miss him being out there right now.”
It doesn't sound like Cignetti and company are worried about a potential long-term injury, but there is some cause for concern among Indiana fans. That's because Becker suffered a similar hamstring injury last August. He was able to suit up for the season opener on August 30, and hopefully his timeline for a return to football activities this time around is also relatively short.
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Spring practice concludes with the spring game on Thursday, April 23. With just two weeks of spring camp remaining, there is no need to rush Becker back to the field in any way. Thus, it's possible that sidelining Becker for the next two weeks is a precautionary move.
Charlie Becker aiming to build on his impressive CFP performance next season
Becker is Indiana's top returning receiver from last year's National Championship team. On the season, he hauled in 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns. He was at his best during Indiana's College Football Playoff run, as he made crucial catches in the biggest moments throughout the postseason.
The Nashville, TN native racked up a career-high 126 receiving yards in the Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State, and had eight catches for 164 yards and a pair of touchdowns in three CFP games. He is forever etched in college football lore thanks to his critical catches on 3rd and 4th down late in the title game against Miami (FL).
Entering his senior season, Becker seems to be in line for an even bigger role in 2026. He already has a great connection with new Indiana QB Josh Hoover, and Hoosier fans are eager to watch the dynamic QB-WR duo in the fall.