A Northwestern offense already stung by the losses of Kain Colter to the pros, Venric Mark to West Texas A&M and Christian Jones to knee surgery has been dealt another blow.
Top receiver Tony Jones will not play Saturday against NIU, with a source saying he has a muscular issue in one of his legs.
Rather than risk aggravating the strain, Northwestern will sit him Saturday, use the bye week, likely rest him for the Western Illinois game and hope he can suit up Sept. 27 at Penn State, NU’s Big Ten opener.
Jones was easily NU’s best skill player Saturday against Cal, catching seven passes for 64 yards and blocking well on the perimeter.
A fifth-year senior, Jones sat out some practices in fall camp to rest what’s believed to be a chronically sore right knee. This injury is said to be unrelated.
Also out Saturday because of injuries are cornerback Dwight White and receivers Mike McHugh and Andrew Scanlan.
The Wildcats could use freshman tailback Solomon Vault to complement a receiving group that includes Kyle Prater, Cam Dickerson, Miles Shuler, Pierre Youngblood-Ary and Austin Carr. Or perhaps multiple superbacks – a tight end/fullback hybrid spot – will line up.
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