Bacher questionable; Sutton likely out for season

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald labeled senior quarterback C.J. Bacher as "questionable" for Saturday's game at No. 17 Minnesota.

Bacher injured his right hamstring on a 10-yard run with five minutes left in the Wildcats' loss to Indiana. He isn't expected to participate in Tuesday's practice.

"As we work through the week, we'll see where things are at," Fitzgerald said. "He'll be questionable to start things off."

Presuming Bacher doesn't play against the Gophers, redshirt junior Mike Kafka gets his first start since Week 4 of the 2006 season.

Ironically, Kafka regains a role he lost due to his own hamstring injury.

The St. Rita product started the first four games in 2006 - in part because Bacher was injured - but he hurt his left hamstring late in a 31-21 loss at Nevada and missed the next three games.

By the time Kafka became healthy enough to play, Bacher seized the job in practice and made the first of 25 consecutive starts.

"If Mike has to play this week, I'd be excited for Mike," Fitzgerald said. "It would be his opportunity that he's been waiting for. I'd be disappointed for C.J. as a senior.

"Mike started games for us here in the past, Mike prepares every week to be the starter and he's been a play away the whole season."

Kafka has made nine relief appearances since Bacher took over, but Saturday's final drive at Indiana was the only one with the game on the line.

Kafka suffered a 24-yard loss on one play as he fired the ball backward out of bounds while being sacked. On the ensuing play, he lost a fumble when he broke containment and got hit just as he wound up to throw.

"I know he'll prepare the right way and he'll manage the game well," Fitzgerald said.

Meanwhile, senior running back Tyrell Sutton is likely out for the rest of the regular season after injuring his wrist Saturday.

Fitzgerald expects Sutton to undergo surgery Tuesday.

Senior Omar Conteh, who played solidly during Sutton's five-game injury absence last fall, becomes the new workhorse.

"We're positive. We're just going to move on," said Conteh, a Cypress, Texas native. "I know I have to step up and handle business."

The Wildcats long have maintained there's little difference between Sutton and Conteh. Their career stats show a moderate disparity.

Sutton, NU's third-leading all-time rusher, averages 5.4 yards per carry and 1 rushing score for every 22.6 carries.

Conteh averages 4.3 yards per carry and 1 rushing score for every 21.1 carries.

Sutton, NU's eighth-leading all-time pass-catcher, averages 8.4 yards per reception and 1 score for every 24 catches.

Conteh averages 9.3 yards per reception and 1 score for every 13.5 catches.