Aron Cruickshank to miss remainder of season with knee injury

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano announced on Monday that Aron Cruickshank will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury against Wisconsin.

“I really feel bad for him because he came back from a shoulder injury that he sustained and now he has the knee injury that he is going to need surgery for,” said Schiano. “I feel really bad. He is such a competitor and has been a great representative for us. We will surround him and help him through it. He will heal with medicine being as good as it is now. He is going to have a change in goals right now for a bit until he gets back to playing.”

Cruickshank took a big hit during a kickoff return. Wisconsin recovered a fumble and later turned it into seven points. However, Cruickshank was helped off the field after the play. It was his first game since returning from a shoulder injury that resulted in him missing the two previous contests. Overall, he appeared in seven games for Rutgers this season and totaled 20 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

Coming into the season, Cruickshank was viewed as one of the best kick returners in the nation. He was named Preseason All-America and All-Big Ten by Phil Steele and Second Team All-America by Walter Camp. He was also named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list.

Cruickshank totaled three catches for 102 yards and a score against Ohio State. He broke off a 75-yard touchdown reception in the contest. Cruickshank was named Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after a victory against Delaware where he broke off a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Cruickshank was not the only injured Scarlet Knight on Saturday. Noah Vedral left the game with an injury and Evan Simon was brought in to finish. Vedral will not practice to begin the week but Schiano believes he will be available in time for Indiana this weekend. There is no decision made on who will start if Vedral is forced to sit.

“I think Noah is going to progress during the week. I think he will be available (for Indiana), but I can’t tell you that for sure,” said Schiano. He further explained that Vedral has the best understanding of the offense of any of the quarterbacks by a wide margin and game planning this week will narrow as they are more certain of his availability.

Rutgers (4-5; 1-5) will travel to Bloomington to take on Indiana (2-7; 0-6) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for Noon ET on Big Ten Network.