It’s a question that’s getting further from being answered.

As it moves into the third week of fall practice, the receiving core has been slowly depleting instead of improving.

Marcus Perez suffered his third concussion and Matt Simon collided with a teammate, injuring his leg. Both will miss the remainder of the season.

Now starters Sam Hurd and Shatone Powers are both nursing injuries.

Hurd suited up Monday after missing a few practices because of an infection in his lymph nodes.

By doubling up as a point guard for the NIU basketball team in February, Powers became NIU’s first two-sport athlete since the early ‘90s. But Powers hasn’t been able to show off his athleticism since sustaining a hamstring injury that could keep him out a week or more.

Powers was at practice Monday, but spent much of it on the sidelines as the coaches don’t want to push him too far too early.

“Right now we are going to take it slow with them,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “Sam will go [Tuesday] but we will see what happens.

“Right now we don’t know when either will be back. At this point somebody might miss Michigan.”

Punter battle

While most of the focus is on the quarterback battle, another one has been going on under the radar.

With the graduation of punter Anthony Gallagher, the Huskies are looking towards a couple of underclassmen to fill the void.

Freshman Andy Dittbenner and sophomore Jason Baez have competed since last spring to earn the starting role.

As of right now, it’s too close to call, Novak said.

“Until either of them kicks in a game it’s going to be hard to tell [who the starter is],” Novak said. “But I can say I’ve been pleased with both of them thus far.”

Mystery men

Going into Michigan, NIU’s most experienced linebacker has only started a handful of games.

With All-MAC linebacker Javan Lee out for the season, middle linebacker Jason Hutton will take the title of most experienced player in the Huskie linebacker core.

If the season started today freshmen T.J. Griffin and junior Keenan Blalark would be on either side of Hutton, Novak said.

“They’re young but I like their ability,” Novak said. “Obviously we are going to suffer because of a lack of experience, but you can’t help that now.”

And the pick is . . .

It seems NIU always plays second fiddle to Toledo.

Over the summer the MAC News Media Association put out its preseason picks. In the West it was Toledo, with NIU picked to finish second. And in the East, Omar Jacobs and Bowling Green are supposed to take the division with Miami as runner-up.

Back in action

Quarterback Dan Nicholson practiced for the first time in a week Tuesday after injuring his right tricep in practice last week.

The redshirt freshman threw 4-of-10 passes for completion for 35 in the pre-season Spring Game in April.

Novak said Nicholson’s throwing arm was only irritated when attempting long passes Tuesday, and that the Chicago native will continue to practice this week.