Illinois coach Tim Beckman expects quarterback Wes Lunt to play Saturday against Purdue.

The quarterback missed Saturday's 45-14 loss at Nebraska with a knee injury. Illinois didn't announce Lunt wouldn't play until just before kickoff.

Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit said Monday that Lunt's injury is "a little bit like a sprain" in his right knee. It happened when a teammate fell on him in Illinois' win over Texas State.

Both Beckman and Cubit said Lunt sat out of the Nebraska game because they didn't think he could scramble well enough to protect himself. Reilly O'Toole started for Illinois (3-2).

Cubit said that against Purdue, Lunt will need to get rid of the ball fast. The Boilermakers (2-3) are third in the Big Ten in sacks with 13.