Purple Reign has it on good authority [also reported in the Chicago Tribune]

that Jeff Backes' lack of playing time in the Navy game was the

result of a severely bruised shoulder. He hadn't practiced much last week, then reinjured it when he blocked out 2 players on a kickoff. Don't look for him to practice much this week either.

NU Sports is reporting that Ashton Aikens broke a bone in his index

finger which required surgery. The finger was pinned and Aikens is listed

as questionable for MSU

- Alexander Webb was

supposed to be out of the hospital last Monday. He's taking a medical hardship

year (Medical Redshirt) and will sit out until 2003

Pat Durr's ACL Tear was apparently repaired

successfully and he'll probably apply for a medical redshirt too.

All these injuries are a far cry from last year, when seemed that NU had

lost almost all of the starting D-Line by game 4.