Indiana quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. has an “AC separation” and his status is week-to-week as he goes through rehab, Indiana head coach Tom Allen said on Monday morning.
Penix suffered the acromioclavicular joint injury to his throwing shoulder on Saturday night at Penn State when he scrambled out of the pocket and landed on hard on his left side after being hit on the run.
Allen said surgery is not necessary at this time and the rehab process has started, although he would not rule out the possibility of surgery at a later date.
“Right now, we feel confident the rehab process will allow him to heal and get back to where he can be effective,” Allen said.
Penix has had each of his last three seasons end prematurely with injuries. He suffered right ACL tears in 2018 and 2020, and a right sternoclavicular joint injury in 2019. He dealt with other less serious injuries in 2019 that caused him to miss game action.
The 2021 season has been a difficult one for the redshirt junior from Tampa, Fla. Through five games Penix is 87-of-162 passing (53.7 percent) with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. Prior to the 2021 campaign Penix had completed better than 61 percent of his throws and amassed 25 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.
The Hoosiers are on a bye week and will face Michigan State on Oct. 16. If Penix is unable to play in that contest he will be replaced by fellow redshirt junior Jack Tuttle, who filled in against Penn State on Saturday after the third quarter injury.
Tuttle is a former 4-star recruit who transferred to IU from Utah following the 2018 season. In three years with Indiana he is 58-of-101 passing (57.4 percent) for 564 yards to go with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
“He’s highly respected by his teammates,” Allen said of Tuttle. He brings an energy as well. … He brought us a spark on Saturday. Have absolute confidence in him.”
Tuttle is 1-1 as a starter, with a 2020 win at Wisconsin and a loss against Ole Miss at the Outback Bowl.
True freshman Donaven McCulley would be elevated to the backup role in that event that Penix misses game action.
(This breaking story will be updated)
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