Eli Holstein injury update: Pitt QB heads to locker room after leaving game vs. Syracuse

It seemed like everything was going Pitt’s way during Thursday’s game against Syracuse. But early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Eli Holstein pulled himself from the game with an apparent injury and later headed to the locker room.

Holstein took a carry with 13:18 to play for a first down, but appeared to hit his head on the turf. As he went to the huddle, he motioned for the training staff and called a timeout, pointing to his face as he headed to the sideline.

Holstein later went back to the locker room for further evaluation as Pitt held a commanding 38-13 lead. Nate Yarnell came in to replace him at quarterback as the Panthers kicked a field goal to make it a 41-13 advantage.

The Pitt offense was fairly quiet during Thursday’s game, but that’s because the defense showed out. Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw five interceptions through more than three quarters, including three pick-sixes to help the Panthers jump out to the commanding lead in the rivalry affair.

Eli Holstein is in his first year at Pitt after transferring from Alabama, where he took a redshirt last season. He entered Thursday’s game with 1,697 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, and at the time of his departure, he completed 11 of 15 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

Those two scores were the only times the Panthers’ offense found the end zone at the time of Holstein’s injury. Even Pat Narduzzi noted the impact the pick-sixes had on the unit, pointing out the lack of time on the field heading into the fourth quarter.

“I want to see our offense execute,” Narduzzi told ESPN’s Harry Lyles ahead of the fourth quarter. “It’s hard to get in a rhythm when we’re [getting] pick-sixes and all that. We just haven’t got in a rhythm. I want to see our offense get in a rhythm in this second half.”

Right after Narduzzi’s interview aired, Holstein threw for his second touchdown of the day to extend Pitt’s lead. It was part of a huge night for the Panthers, who were well on their way to a 7-0 start one year after finishing 3-9.