Brandon Peters game-time decision for Illinois, Art Sitkowski to start

Art Sitkowski will start at quarterback for Illinois for the second straight week, Illini coach Bret Bielema told reporters Thursday afternoon.

Sitkowski will continue to fill in for Brandon Peters, who’s still recovering from a Week 0 shoulder injury. Bielema said Peters will be a game-time decision.

Artur Sitkowski will start at QB again for #illini football at Virginia. Brandon Peters (shoulder) is a "game-time decision" after practicing this week.

Illini also will get two key RBs back and two key WRs back, Bielema said, though one key RB is out. https://t.co/4pntxJHMUn

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) September 9, 2021

Sitkowski has done a good job replacing Peters for the Illini, who are 1-1 entering their Week 2 game against Virginia. The Rutgers transfer is 34-for-57 for 390 yards and 5 touchdowns since taking over for Peters in the first quarter of Illinois’ season-opening victory over Nebraska on Aug. 28.

In 4 games last year, Sitkowski completed 52 of 82 passes for 444 yards and 3 touchdowns. It sure looks like the transition to Bielema’s offense in Champaign is working for the fourth-year sophomore.

Illinois and Virginia are set to kick off in Charlottesville on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. CT on the ACC Network.