INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Purdue running back Jaycen Taylor could return from a broken arm in six weeks.

Coach Joe Tiller originally thought Taylor might be out for the season after the junior was injured Saturday in a victory over Central Michigan.

``He possibly could come back and play,'' Tiller said Tuesday during his weekly teleconference. ``Whether or not that comes to fruition, of course, remains to be seen.''

Taylor left Saturday's game for good after a 5-yard run late in the first quarter, and later found out he broke both bones in his lower arm. He had surgery on Monday, and plates were put on both bones.

``To me, any break is not a good deal, but apparently, this was the best we could have hoped for, and that Jaycen could have hoped for, coming out of this,'' Tiller said.

Taylor won the starting job in the spring and had rushed for 197 yards on 28 carries this season.

``I'm concerned quite a bit about the running back position,'' Tiller said. ``I think the loss of Taylor was pretty big.''

Kory Sheets, who ran for a career-high 144 yards against Central Michigan, but fumbled twice, will move up the depth chart for Saturday's game against Minnesota.

Dan Dierking, whose father, Scott, ran for 2,863 yards for Purdue from 1973-76, will be the No. 2 running back.