PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Saturday QB Phil Jurkovec left the game after a hit around the head area, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi saying on Monday he has no idea if Jurkovec will play Saturday night at Virginia Tech.
When asked about him working this week, Narduzzi said he doesn’t know if Jurkovec will be taking reps in practice, which begins on Tuesday. He also didn’t know at this time if they will be splitting first-team reps between him and backup Christian Veilleux. Narduzzi also declined to specify the exact nature of the injury.
As for Veilleux’s performance in relief Saturday against North Carolina going 7-18 for 82 yards and a pair of interceptions.
“I think he was good,” Narduzzi said. “It’s guys around you. You have turnovers and anytime you see that you are going to say ‘no’.”
The Pitt head coach said one of the interceptions Veilleux threw wasn’t the quarterback’s fault, freshman receiver Kenny Johnson gave up on a route and it ended up being a TD for North Carolina. Veilleux will be the starter if Jurkovec can’t go, but Narduzzi said he has faith in third-string QB Nate Yarnell.
“Phil is our starting quarterback,” Narduzzi said. “Let’s start there and we’ll see where we are.”
Captain out
Voted offensive captain for the first time, Pitt will be without starting left tackle Matt Goncalves for the rest of the season. Head coach Pat Narduzzi wouldn’t disclose the injury, saying only that he had surgery. The redshirt senior from New York has played 39 games at Pitt, Narduzzi said it’s a hit to their team and offense.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Baer will continue at tackle. Narduzzi said he made a couple of ‘young guy’ mistakes, but has no doubt he will be better against the Hokies.
Rebounding
The last time the Panthers started the season 1-3 was 2017, Panthers finished 5-7 that year. Narduzzi said you don’t take anything from that season, no one (players) was here. He said you take it day-by-day and plug away. They are not changing their plan, just ramping up the intensity.
“We have a great attitude,” Narduzzi said. “Our guys, they are ready to move on. They see the two drives (touchdowns) and go ‘let’s do that all the time. Why can’t we be more consistent?’ It’s attention to detail. It’s some young guys making mistakes. We got to get it fixed up and we will.”