Curt Cignetti provides injury updates to key IU football offensive players

During the season opener for the IU football program, there were a few injuries to key members of its roster — wideout Donaven McCulley and running back Kaelon Black. While neither are expected to be significant injuries this season, they were enough to limit both players in the Hoosiers’ 31-7 win over Florida International.

Early in the second quarter at the 9:35 mark, McCulley was working on the left side of the field when he caught a nine-yard curl route. He dove down towards the first down marker when he took a hard hit to the back of his head and back area. There were no additional details to specific what the injury was, but it definitely appeared to be upper body.

He was clearly shaken up and made his way over to the sideline. He would head to the locker room and did not return in the second half.

McCulley finished with just one catch for nine yards. Following the game, IU head coach Curt Cignetti said that McCulley was not ‘medically cleared’ to return. He provided some additional info on Monday.

“I think we’ll have him back soon,” Cignetti said. “Right now I would say it’s more day to day … We got him in there, and he was playing fast, doing a nice job, and took a hit and was ruled out. He’ll be anxious to get back, and I’ll be anxious to get him back.”

McCulley was the leading receiver for IU football in 2023, totaling 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns.

The other key member of the Indiana offense who was limited in action was running back Kaelon Black. The James Madison transfer had just one carry for seven yards.

Cignetti provided more clarity on the lingering injury.

“Kaelon Black, you know, ham (hamstring) was a little tight,” Cignetti said. “So we held him precautionary after he ran down on kickoff and I think had one carry

Black had 142 carries for 637 yards and one touchdown last year. He also caught 24 passes out of the backfield for 254 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

Despite missing Black, the backfield for Indiana was on full display — and was the strength of the offense. IU football had 234 yards on the ground and IU’s running backs ran for an average of 6.6 yards per carry.

The status of both players remain up in the air and with a short week — with IU playing on Friday night — it wouldn’t be out of the question to see both limited or missing some action before traveling to UCLA for the first Big Ten game of the season in week three.

SEE ALSO: Despite a season opening win, Curt Cignetti wants IU football to ‘learn to play with a lead’ going forward

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