Nebraska I-back Rex Burkhead returned to the Nebraska lineup last week, but wearing a brace on his left knee to protect where he suffered an MCL sprain back on Sept. 1.

Any chance the senior takes it off this week against Wisconsin?

“We’ll see,” Burkhead said Monday. “I’m hoping so. But it’s kind of up to the doctors and stuff, and seeing how my knee’s coming along.”

Burkhead said it was a little strange watching film to see the brace on his knee. At times it felt a little restrictive.

But he still rattled off 119 yards on eight carries in the 73-7 win over Idaho State, as well as a 25-yard reception.

“It felt good to get out there in a game situation,” Burkhead said. “Just getting tackled, being comfortable and confident making cuts and stuff, was good. And it felt good. There was no swelling or soreness the next day, which was another positive.”

After sitting out two weeks, Burkhead was happy to get some tune-up work before the Big Ten schedule.

Enough to be ready for the Badgers? Burkhead thinks so.

“I feel like it’s perfect timing,” he said. “The knee felt good during practice last week and I got a good amount of carries on Saturday, so I feel like it’s perfect timing.”