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Kurtis Rourke update: Optimism injured Indiana QB could return soon, per report
By Mark Kern
Published:
Kurtis Rourke and Indiana have been the story of the year in the Big Ten and college football as a whole, as the Hoosiers are 7-0 on the season. Last Saturday, they hosted Nebraska in their toughest test to date and responded with a 56-7 win.
Rourke has been one of the biggest reasons for the team’s success, as he has thrown for 1,941 yards, 15 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. But he did have to leave the Nebraska game with a thumb injury in the first half, and the team announced initially that he would be out indefinitely.
However, there is optimism that Rourke could be back sooner than initially expected.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Tuesday that there is optimism that Rourke could be back for the game against Michigan State on Nov. 2. He had surgery on his thumb on Monday, per Thamel, and that cleared up the timeline for a return. Indiana is still expected to be without Rourke on Saturday against Washington.
IU QB Kurtis Rourke underwent surgery on his injured right thumb on Monday, per ESPN sources. That helped provide some clarity on a potential return, including optimism that he could be back for Indiana’s game at Michigan State on Nov. 2. https://t.co/3YxdYZUK3o
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 22, 2024
That would put Tayven Jackson in line to draw a start on Saturday. Jackson looked comfortable when he subbed into the game against Nebraska over the weekend. He went 7-of-8 for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air.
By the time Jackson entered the game though, Indiana had taken a commanding lead, so there wasn’t any pressure on him.
The game against Washington kicks off on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET from Bloomington and will be broadcast on the B1G Network.
In the coming weeks, Indiana faces its toughest test of the season. The Hoosiers host Michigan on Nov. 9 and then play Ohio State on the road on Nov. 23.