The Illinois Fighting Illini are slated for a ranked matchup against the number one team in the country this week, the Oregon Ducks. After a big win over the Michigan Wolverines, they have to avoid a letdown if they want any chance of beating Dan Lanning’s bunch. Luckily, the Illinois Fighting Illini have remained mostly healthy this season and despite some scares in the Michigan game are still in a great position for Saturday’s game.
Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Bret Bielema talked to the press earlier this week to discuss some of the progress that players dealing with injuries have made and if there’s any update on their condition or availability moving forward. One of the top concerns is RB Kaden Feagin. Feagin is not expected to suit up but Dennis Briggs Jr. and Melvin Priestly are cleared for action and unlimited in practice after going down in the win over Michigan.
Clean Bill Of Health For Illinois Fighting Illini
The Illinois Fighting Illini downed the Michigan Wolverines last week 21-7 and did not lose anybody to injury in the process. Dennis Briggs Jr. was down on the field when the Illini were on defense but he was able to come back after just one play. On offense, Right Tackle Melvin Priestly was nagged by a right leg injury that he suffered in the Purdue game and missed a few snaps before returning to action.
For Priestly, the second game in a row where he went down created some concern for fans despite his reentry into the game. Head Coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini put those concerns to bed earlier this week when he spoke to the press and said, “[We] don’t expect to have anybody from this past game that won’t be at this week’s game. Everyone is cleared and ready to roll.” In Priestly’s absence, Josh Gesky came in and played right guard, and starting guard Brandon Henderson was kicked out to the right tackle spot.
Checking In On RB1
While Head Coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini Bret Bielema cleared the air on players who suited up in the game against Michigan, he did not make any mention of Kaden Feagin, the team’s starting running back. After saying last week that Feagin was seeing a hip specialist affiliated with the New York Giants, there hasn’t been any update on his status moving forward. The expectation is that Feagin will miss a considerable amount of time and that his main goal is to return at some point this season.
In the absence of Feagin, Josh McCray and Aidan Laughery have shouldered many of the running back responsibilities with Ca’Lel Valentine occasionally getting snaps. McCray has been healthy all season while Laughery was injured earlier in the season and hasn’t assumed a full workload in this offense as of yet. McCray has risen to the occasion to fill the shoes of Feagin and Laughery has been the big-play hitter for the Illinois rushing attack, including two 20-yard gains against Michigan.
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