Pat Fitzgerald announced Monday that running back Tyrell Sutton and quarterback C.J. Bacher will play in Northwestern's Big Ten opener at Iowa on Saturday .
Sutton, who watched the second half of the undefeated Wildcats' 16-8 win over Ohio in street clothes on Saturday, has an intentionally vague injury to his left leg.
"I feel after talking to Tyrell today, he's going to play on Saturday," Fitzgerald said.
"Exactly what limited capacity he'll be in this week in practice, I'll figure it out as we work through the week. But he'll play this week. Excited for that. He's got a leg injury that I think will be something that might slow him down initially during the week, but I fully anticipate him playing on Saturday."
Bacher played the entire Ohio game but threw a career-worst 4 interceptions. Three of them came after he sprained a few fingers on his throwing hand when he smacked it on an Ohio lineman.
"He's fine and he's good," Fitzgerald said.
Northwestern's offense won't have junior wide receiver Andrew Brewer or junior right tackle Kurt Mattes (knee) this week.
While Mattes, the most experienced member of NU's usual offensive line, will be missed for the third time this year, Sutton is much more crucial to the Wildcats' attack.
The numbers from the Ohio game illustrate the 5-foot-9 Sutton's outsize impact on the offense.
The senior suffered his injury, which appeared to be either a hyperextended knee or a hamstring issue, with approximately one minute left in the first half.
With Sutton available, NU rolled up 187 yards in 33 plays and all 16 of its points.
(Well, to be more precise, Sutton left following his 31-yard run that set up the Wildcats on the Ohio 11 for their lone touchdown drive of the game).
Without Sutton available and senior Omar Conteh as the featured back, NU managed just 96 total yards in 38 plays and Bacher tossed 3 of his 5 interceptions on the year.
When Sutton missed five full games and most of two others last season with an ankle injury, senior wide receiver Eric Peterman noted that Bacher threw more than the Wildcats might otherwise have done.
"But Omar's done a great job when he's been in there," Peterman said. "He runs the ball well, runs the ball hard. And we're not losing a great deal when Tyrell goes down, just because of the way Omar's been playing.
"But you can't replace Tyrell Sutton. He's one of those guys that just has that special 'it' when he's on the field. Something you can't teach, you just have.
"We're going to miss him if he can't play, but he's going to play so it's going to be great."
Sutton ranks third on NU's all-time rushing list (3,383 yards), tied for fourth on the all-time scoring chart (210 points) and 10th on the all-time receptions chart (126).
Sutton, who watched the second half of the undefeated Wildcats' 16-8 win over Ohio in street clothes on Saturday, has an intentionally vague injury to his left leg.
"I feel after talking to Tyrell today, he's going to play on Saturday," Fitzgerald said.
"Exactly what limited capacity he'll be in this week in practice, I'll figure it out as we work through the week. But he'll play this week. Excited for that. He's got a leg injury that I think will be something that might slow him down initially during the week, but I fully anticipate him playing on Saturday."
Bacher played the entire Ohio game but threw a career-worst 4 interceptions. Three of them came after he sprained a few fingers on his throwing hand when he smacked it on an Ohio lineman.
"He's fine and he's good," Fitzgerald said.
Northwestern's offense won't have junior wide receiver Andrew Brewer or junior right tackle Kurt Mattes (knee) this week.
While Mattes, the most experienced member of NU's usual offensive line, will be missed for the third time this year, Sutton is much more crucial to the Wildcats' attack.
The numbers from the Ohio game illustrate the 5-foot-9 Sutton's outsize impact on the offense.
The senior suffered his injury, which appeared to be either a hyperextended knee or a hamstring issue, with approximately one minute left in the first half.
With Sutton available, NU rolled up 187 yards in 33 plays and all 16 of its points.
(Well, to be more precise, Sutton left following his 31-yard run that set up the Wildcats on the Ohio 11 for their lone touchdown drive of the game).
Without Sutton available and senior Omar Conteh as the featured back, NU managed just 96 total yards in 38 plays and Bacher tossed 3 of his 5 interceptions on the year.
When Sutton missed five full games and most of two others last season with an ankle injury, senior wide receiver Eric Peterman noted that Bacher threw more than the Wildcats might otherwise have done.
"But Omar's done a great job when he's been in there," Peterman said. "He runs the ball well, runs the ball hard. And we're not losing a great deal when Tyrell goes down, just because of the way Omar's been playing.
"But you can't replace Tyrell Sutton. He's one of those guys that just has that special 'it' when he's on the field. Something you can't teach, you just have.
"We're going to miss him if he can't play, but he's going to play so it's going to be great."
Sutton ranks third on NU's all-time rushing list (3,383 yards), tied for fourth on the all-time scoring chart (210 points) and 10th on the all-time receptions chart (126).
