By Ralph D. Russo, Joe Rexrode and Alex Andrejev
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke is expected to miss the Hoosiers’ game against Washington after suffering a thumb injury in Saturday’s win over Nebraska, two people briefed on the situation confirmed Sunday.
Rourke is expected to return at some point this season, though that timetable is unclear, those two people briefed on the situation said.
The quarterback appeared to hit his hand on the helmet of a Nebraska player in the second quarter. He closed out the quarter but did not return for the second half, and instead stayed on the sideline in street clothes. He threw for 189 yards with one touchdown and one interception as the Hoosiers took a 28-7 lead at the half.
Backup quarterback Tayven Jackson replaced Rourke in the second half, throwing for 91 yards and two touchdowns in the 56-7 win that kept Indiana undefeated this season. Jackson is a former four-star prospect from Greenwood, Ind., who began his career at Tennessee. He started five games in 2023, his first season at Indiana.
The No. 16 Hoosiers are 7-0 and host Washington on Saturday at noon ET.
“I know people are going to ask me about Kurtis Rourke,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said after the game. “I thought he played really well in the first half. He had a thumb on a helmet — nail kind of came off. We’ll know more tomorrow, but optimistic.”
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(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
