Positive news on both Daniels and Loos.

Daniels on the mend: NIU will be without its top running back when practice starts next week, but the timetable for his return remains a mystery.

Akeem Daniels will be back from a foot injury “as soon as he can,” Carey said, after offseason surgery.

In the meantime, Carey said Giorgio Bowers and Keith Harris Jr., will fill in.

“Akeem Daniels is going to be back with us, but right now he’s a little laid up with a little injury that’s been nagging on him,” Carey said. “We’ve had a chance to get in there and fix it a little bit and the doctors do a great job at NIU. So he’s on the mend, and he’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later.”

Loos back: After breaking his tibia against Toledo late in the season last year, left tackle Tyler Loos, who sat out spring practice, is back and ready to play.

“He’s back, he’s been cleared and we’re working him back into it,” Carey said. “He wasn’t with us all spring, obviously, because he was healing. Now he’s ready to go. So we’re expecting big things from him.”

Loos will be a welcome addition to a line that was humbled throughout the Huskies’ Orange Bowl loss. Carey said that experience is a motivating factor heading into the season.

“I think they put a chip on their shoulder, and rightly so,” Carey said. “I don’t think I’m speaking out of school when I say this: … they got pushed around in that bowl, and they put a chip on their shoulder and they’re trying to do something about that.”