Sudden injuries have sidelined two key Nebraska football players, including one who will likely miss next season.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said Wednesday that running back Kenny Wilson, already out this spring because of a staph infection in his knee, suffered a broken femur while carrying a television set and is expected to miss the 2007 season.

Meanwhile, Callahan was anxiously awaiting the medical trainers’ report on senior cornerback Zackary Bowman, who left Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. The extent of the injury wasn’t immediately known, although it’s not the same knee Bowman injured last August.

“Hopefully, he’s in good shape,” Callahan said, “but we’ll have to get a little more information on his status.”

Callahan said Bowman collided with another player on a crossing route during a 7-on-7 drill. Bowman had torn the ACL in his other knee last August, causing him to miss the 2006 season, which he redshirted.

Callahan said he’s hopeful Wilson, a senior from Liberal, Kan., can redshirt. Wilson underwent surgery in Omaha.

“It’s going to take some time for him to heal. A very unfortunate set of circumstances,” Callahan said. “Just when he was seemingly getting better, this is just a tremendous setback for him.”

Wilson rushed for 335 yards in 12 games last season before being bothered in bowl practices by a sore knee. It led to an infection that hospitalized Wilson for a week-and-a-half in January and caused him to lose nearly 25 pounds.

With Wilson out for the spring, coaches kept sophomore Major Culbert at running back during spring practices. Culbert played safety last season but moved to running back during bowl practices.

Callahan said he wasn’t certain whether Wilson’s latest setback means a permanent move for Culbert.

“As we get into training camp, we’ll evaluate the young backs and determine the direction we’ll go in the fall,” Callahan said.

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.