Ameer Abdullah out with knee injury

— -- LINCOLN, Neb. -- Heisman Trophy candidate Ameer Abdullah of  Nebraska suffered a knee injury in the first quarter against  Purdue and will not return, coach Bo Pelini said at halftime of Saturday's game.

The nation's leading rusher entering the weekend, Abdullah was hurt while diving to recover a fumble at the Purdue 1 on a fourth-down fumble by quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr.

Abdullah was fitted with a sleeve over his left knee and returned for one possession, rushing once for a 5-yard loss. He then returned to the sideline as trainers applied ice to the knee.

Nebraska backups Imani Cross and Terrell Newby have shared time in Abdullah's absence.