MAC Offensive Player of the Year Leaves First Game Back From Torn ACL With Apparent Injury

Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke, the reigning MAC offensive player of the year, left the first half of Saturday’s opener against San Diego State with an apparent leg injury.

With 20 seconds to go in the first quarter, Rourke dropped back to pass on third-and-5, and was sacked. He went down awkwardly after trying to duck a defender on the initial pass rush.

Rourke laid face down on the ground for several seconds before rolling over and sitting up. He was seen trotting off the field with a limp after being attended to by team medical personnel.

Kurtis Rourke is perhaps the most exciting player in the MAC this season, a QB with real NFL potential. He ended 2022 with a devastating injury and it would absolutely suck for '23 to begin with another.pic.twitter.com/re1cGBfu8H

— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) August 27, 2023

Rourke, who is one of the most exciting offensive players in the Group of Five, tore his ACL last November, which ended his season after 11 games. He finished the season completing 69.1% of his passes for 3,257 yards and 25 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. He also rushed for 245 yards and four touchdowns.

Rourke’s status for the opener was in question as he recovered from the ACL injury at the end of last season, but his remarkable recovery timeline put him well ahead of schedule and put him in position to start on Saturday.

While it’s unclear whether or not Rourke’s injury on Saturday was to the ACL, his exit early in the contest will certainly have Bobcats fans on pins and needles.