Huskers suffer first fall camp casualties

The first casualties of fall camp struck Nebraska this week, as several notable offensive skill players sat out of Thursday’s full-pads practice and one true freshman is already done for the season.

Head coach Mike Riley announced following Thursday’s session that freshman wide receiver Jaevon McQuitty suffered a right knee injury during a blocking drill earlier this week and would require season-ending surgery.

Riley also said receivers Keyan Williams and J.D. Spielman were held out with muscle pulls, and running back Tre Bryant sat out due to “wear and tear” on his knee.

Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf said it’s always disappointing to lose a player to injury, especially when it’s a young talent like McQuitty who was making a push to crack the wide out rotation his first year.

“I thought he was, for a true freshman that has been here for a short time, I really was pleased with how he was progressing,” Langsdorf said. “I don’t think he was going to go in there and start, but he was definitely in the conversation of playing.”

Riley said Williams suffered “a good hamstring pull” and would likely be out for a couple of weeks, while Spielman is considered day-to-day.

In their absence, NU has added walk-on receivers Ty Chaffin and Christian Baker to its 105-man fall camp roster.

With Bryant, Riley said it was more a decision made by the coaches to give the sophomore back some need rest and recovery time.

“Tre has had, over the course of time we’ve had him, he’s had kind of wear and tear issues with his knee, so we’re giving him a break, basically. We expect (back) him maybe tomorrow, but for sure on Monday.”