The Indiana Hoosiers’ dream season just got a bit more complicated.
Superstar quarterback Kurtis Rourke left Saturday’s drubbing of the previously 5-1 Nebraska Cornhuskers with an apparent injury, and Sunday we learned the initial diagnosis is less than ideal. What happened to Rourke, and what can we expect from his backup, Tayven Jackson?
What Happened to Kurtis Rourke?
Indiana quarterback Rourke has been the catalyst for the Hoosiers’ incredible start, posting ridiculous numbers in a season that has been Heisman-worthy. But he left the Hoosiers’ game at halftime after injuring his thumb late in the second quarter.
Sunday morning, the initial diagnosis came in: It’s a broken thumb that will cause Rourke to miss next Saturday’s game against the Washington Huskies.
Later in the afternoon, the news got worse as the thumb injury will keep him out “indefinitely,” according to NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach.
Official injury update from Indiana: Redshirt senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke will be out an indefinite period of time with a thumb injury but is expected to return in 2024.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 20, 2024
The date that looms large is a late-November clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes that has potential Big Ten Football Championship Game and College Football Playoff implications.
Now, the undefeated Hoosiers will turn to backup Jackson. But while Jackson isn’t Rourke, he’s not a slouch either.
Who Is Tayven Jackson?
Jackson is a multi-year Hoosier, a former starter, and a holdover from the Tom Allen era of Indiana football.
He started five games for the Hoosiers last season, throwing for 914 yards and two touchdowns with five interceptions on a bad Hoosier offense. This season, he’s fared much better in relief, throwing for 225 yards and three touchdowns to no interceptions, adding 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
He’s a dual-threat, but he looks to pass first and has excellent size and an NFL-caliber arm. The question is whether head coach Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan can scheme players open and simplify Jackson’s reads.
The physical ability is there for Jackson, and he’s surrounded by an abundance of talent this season.
If he can play to his potential, the potent Hoosier offense shouldn’t miss a beat.
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