The Illinois Fighting Illini could have a shootout on their hands against the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, Md. this weekend, with QB Michael Clayton II expected to start against Terps star QB Malik Washington.

Washington has thrown for over 1,600 yards this season and will lead a 2-5 Maryland team with nothing to lose against the Fighting Illini.

Clayton II has performed well without a full deck of cards on offense this season, but was hoping to get weapon Jayshon Platt back at the receiver position.

Those hopes were dashed as an injury report came out detailing Platt's situation. 

Platt was listed as doubtful earlier in the week for the Maryland game, but was listed as out for the game on Friday according to reporter Glenn Kinley of WCIA-3 Champaign.  

Kinley listed Platt's injury statuses leading up to several weekends' games this season, and they showed how his status hasn't improved throughout each week.

The Illini's game at Ohio State included three doubtful statuses for Platt followed by an "out" designation before the game. Platt received three questionable designations ahead of the Purdue game and a game-time decision status before the game to round things out, but he did not play. 

Platt got three probable designations ahead of the Michigan State game, but was a game-time decision beforehand and did not play. Leading up to the Oregon game, he got three probable designations but was listed as out beforehand. 

Bielema has thought highly of Platt's chances to play from the opening part of the season, but his hopes have been dashed with each passing week. The former Florida Atlantic star built up a rapport with injured Illini QB Katin Houser prior to the season, but it never materialized on a gameday field, and now both players are out with injury heading into Week 9. 

Bielema and the Fighting Illini have made the most of the healthy players they do have in the passing game, with Clayton II leading them to two wins in two games played and Houser becoming one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks, statistically speaking, before suffering a broken right hand in the Michigan State game. 

Now, Illinois' passing game looks solid, but shorthanded, heading into Week 9 against the Terrapins. Bielema's optimistic outlook on the passing game has given way to tough injury news, but not all is lost as Clayton II, Collin Dixon, Hudson Clement and others have picked up the slack without Platt and Houser. 

It's fair to wonder exactly what went wrong with Platt this season, as the nature of his injury still hasn't been disclosed. There is still hope for a return at some point this season, but for now, Illinois will make due with what they have in a road game that should be an exciting one.