Illinois QB Artur Sitkowski out for rest of season

Field Level Media
26 Oct 2021, 05:05 GMT+10

Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski will have surgery on his broken arm later this week and is done for the rest of the season.

Sitkowski was injured in the sixth overtime of the Illini's stunning upset of then-No. 7 Penn State on Saturday. Illinois won 20-18 in a record ninth OT when regular starting QB Brandon Peters threw a 2-point conversion pass. Peters had been sidelined by injury and didn't start.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema said Monday that Sitkowski also needs shoulder surgery, which will come after his arm surgery on Wednesday. Sitkowski will miss all of spring ball, but Bielema expects him back for the 2022 season.

Sitkowski started against UTSA, Virginia and the Nittany Lions in place of the injured Peters. Sitkowski was 8 of 19 passing for 38 yards and an interception against Penn State.

Sitkowski completed 50 percent of his passes in five games this season, throwing for 704 yards with six touchdowns against two interceptions.

Division II transfer Ryan Johnson is expected to back up Peters for the rest of the season.

Illinois (3-5, 2-3 Big Ten) hosts Rutgers (3-4, 0-4) on Saturday, the school from whence Sitkowski transferred after the 2020 season. Sitkowski threw for 2,031 yards in 18 games for the Scarlet Knights.

--Field Level Media

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