LINCOLN — A knee injury will keep Rickey Thenarse from practicing this week and may end up sidelining the team's No. 3 safety for a lengthy stint.

Coach Bo Pelini said on the Big 12 weekly teleconference Monday that he isn't sure how severe Thenarse's injury may be. At this point, though, it's certain that Thenarse will be “out for a while.”

Thenarse appeared to land awkwardly while covering a first-quarter kickoff during Saturday's 55-0 win against Louisiana-Lafayette. Team trainers were examining his right knee on the sideline. He did not return to the game.

Coincidentally, Pelini just went out of his way last week to compliment Thenarse, saying on Sept. 22 that the senior safety should be given more opportunities on defense. Thenarse is a regular special teams contributor.

Now operating without Thenarse, Nebraska's defense will rely on several inexperienced players to back up seniors Matt O'Hanlon and Larry Asante at the safety spot.

Redshirt freshmen P.J. Smith and Courtney Osborne and sophomore Austin Cassidy all received some playing time Saturday after Asante hurt himself on a 74-yard interception return.

But Pelini said Monday that Asante is “fine.” And apparently, according to Pelini, so are the reserve safeties behind him.

“I feel good about our depth at safety,” Pelini said.

Burkhead justifies Pelini's confidence

Saturday was by far the best statistical day for true freshman Rex Burkhead, though that performance didn't surprise Pelini much.

Pelini said Monday that he's had confidence in Burkhead since the season opener.

The backup to I-back Roy Helu had a team-high four catches against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, turning one short shovel pass into an impressive 24-yard touchdown play in the fourth quarter. Burkhead ran the ball six times for 27 yards and returned two punts, one for 33 and another for 26.

Burkhead led the team with 112 all-purpose yards Saturday.

“I like him as a backup,” Pelini said. “He picks things up. He understands what we're asking him to do.”

Timing of bye week doesn't thrill coach

Speaking on the Big 12 conference call, Pelini didn't seem overly thrilled about the timing of the Huskers' week off.

The bye week seems to serve as sort of a natural break for the Huskers, who finished the nonconference portion of their schedule Saturday.

It certainly gives the Huskers a chance to rest up and a few extra days to prepare for a grueling, eight-game Big 12 slate. And the coaching staff will have the opportunity to do a little midseason recruiting.

But Pelini didn't go out of his way Monday to praise the schedule.

“You're going to have a bye in there at some point,” he said. “It's all in how you manage it.”

Last year, Nebraska nearly had an 0-2 record after bye weeks. The Huskers need a late comeback to beat Colorado after a week off. They lost to Virginia Tech earlier in the season.

— Jon Nyatawa

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