Matt Rhule answers whether Nebraska will open up quarterback competition

After securing its first win of the season with Jeff Sims on the sideline with an ankle injury, there’s some question as to whether Nebraska might open up its quarterback competition going forward.

Sims struggled in the first two games before he was hurt, while backup Heinrich Haarberg looked fairly capable in his stead on Saturday.

“I think both quarterbacks, we figured out that both quarterbacks are good quarterbacks,” coach Matt Rhule said. “The situation that Jeff went and played in the first two games was difficult, and a lot of things that weren’t his fault were pegged on Jeff Sims. So we’ve got a lot of confidence in Jeff.”

Still, after winning the quarterback competition Sims’ numbers weren’t very good in the first two outings, with turnovers the most glaring problem.

Sims has gone 20-of-34 passing for 220 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. He’s also fumbled twice. Heinrich seemed to steady the ship on the turnovers front, though admittedly against less stiff competition than Sims faced.

“We’ve known all along that Heinrich can play,” Rhule said. “We’ve got a good situation. I won’t talk any hypotheticals. I don’t know who’s going to be healthy, who’s not. I know we can win with both guys, and you guys know how I feel about Chubba (Purdy).”

Some of the decision will ultimately come down to Sims’ health. He was a scratch against Northern Illinois due to the ankle injury he picked up a week prior against Colorado.

If and when he’s healthy, he may get another look. After all, he was the guy the coaches went with after the quarterback competition ended in fall camp.

Still, it’s clear that Nebraska at least has some options now.

“I think we have a lot of players,” Rhule said. “I think the biggest thing for us is just continuing to find the guys on offense who can make plays for the quarterbacks, so those runs that (Anthony Grant) made at the end, Gabe (Ervin Jr.) made at the end, we just need to keep finding guys.”

Nebraska will be back in action this week against Louisiana Tech in a non-conference matchup. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday with a broadcast on the Big Ten Network.