Mickey Joseph reveals Nebraska's plan at quarterback if Casey Thompson can't play

Nebraska still has some things to figure out before they take on Michigan on Saturday. The biggest question still looming for the Cornhuskers is what to do at quarterback. If starting quarterback Casey Thompson is healthy enough to go, he starts. That’s an easy fix. But what if he can’t go? What does Nebraska do? Head coach Mickey Joseph did his best to answer that question during a recent press conference.

“I’m gonna make a decision, probably, Thursday, after watching both practice,” said Joseph. “I gotta watch them both practice and see which one is performing the best. But right now, I’m looking at both of them.

“We’re trying to match that together right now. We think (Chubba) Purdy is the better thrower. But Logan (Smothers), he can make throws, also. And we think Logan’s the better runner. It happens like that; each quarterback is going to have different strengths and weaknesses.”

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Without Thompson, the Cornhuskers’ offense struggles to move the ball. Neither Purdy nor Smothers has looked great in the passing game. On the season, the two have combined for 22 completions on 47 attempts for 172 passing yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. If Thompson can’t go on Saturday, the Cornhuskers’ gameplan might be severely compromised and limited. And against a Michigan defense ranked in the top five in the country in most defensive categories, that will make for a long day for Nebraska.

Joseph updates Casey Thompson’s status for Saturday against Michigan

During Nebraska’s loss to Illinois, starting quarterback Casey Thompson left the game with an arm injury. Since then, he missed the Minnesota game and has been considered day-to-day ever since. During a weekly press conference, interim head coach Mickey Joseph updated his status going into an important game against Michigan.

“We held Casey [out of practice] today,” Mickey Joseph said. “Just trying to still be day-by-day with him. But we held him today. No reps today.”

Later in his press conference, Mickey Joseph was asked if he would rule Casey Thompson out for Saturday’s game against Michigan.

“Right now, you know, just looking at him today, I probably would rule out Casey. If he doesn’t go by tomorrow. If he doesn’t go by tomorrow, I’m gonna have to rule him out,” Mickey Joseph said.