Casey Thompson leaves Nebraska vs Illinois with apparent injury, Logan Smothers comes in at QB

Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson took a huge hit from a couple Illinois defenders on Saturday and left the game in the second quarter. He appeared to be favoring his right arm as he walked off the field.

Thompson threw an interception and was knocked to the ground as he threw. He sat on the ground after the play looking at his right arm and hardly moved it as he headed toward the sideline. After evaluation on the sideline, he headed to the locker room with the training staff.

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Interestingly, Logan Smothers came in to replace Thompson at quarterback instead of backup Chubba Purdy. Smothers had only taken two snaps all season prior to entering the game. Purdy, meanwhile, stood on the sideline with his helmet on.

Illinois capitalized on the interception as star running back Chase Brown ran in a touchdown to re-take the lead, 13-9, over the Huskers at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Thompson is in his first season with Nebraska after transferring from Texas prior to the season. Through seven games this season, he has 1,851 yards and 11 touchdowns to his name. It seems like he’s settling in well this year, and had some high praise for interim coach Mickey Joseph this week.

“I like coach Joseph because he brings good energy. He’s very detailed and organized. He’s very intense and passionate, and he brings the best out of everyone,” Thompson said. “What I like about him is when you walk into the building, whether you’re a player or a coach, everything you do is going to be evaluated. Anybody on staff has to do their job, and he holds everybody accountable, and I really like it.

“Almost every day, we talk, and we meet, and he tells me what I need. What he needs from me as a quarterback and as a leader. I appreciate him because he pushes me. I’d rather a coach be more demanding and more aggressive and be more vocal about what they need from me instead of being passive. At the end of the day, I’m still a college student. I haven’t made it to the pros yet, and I’m not a coach. So I don’t know everything, and I need to have that hard coaching. I think coach Joseph does a good job with me, holding me accountable and the rest of the team.”