Garrett Greene exits Backyard Brawl vs. Pittsburgh early in first quarter with injury

West Virginia starting quarterback Garrett Greene was injured midway through the first quarter in the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh on Saturday night. He was down on the field for a minute and needed assistance limping off the field.

He was helped off the field into the medical tent for a few minutes, before heading to the West Virginia locker room for medical treatment. Backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol entered the game for Greene once he left the game.

In the second quarter, the ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath updated his status. “West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene received x-rays in the training room, Sean, and I’m told they saw nothing damaging enough to rule him out. So, they’re “trying to get him taped up and functional,” she said. “The Mountaineer staff tells me he’s very tough and they’re hopeful he can return,” McGrath said on Saturday night.

Garrett Greene was eventually ruled out of the game

She also observed Greene trying to walk off the injury. He was seen crying in the Mountaineers’ weight room in pain. Later in the first half, Greene returned to the WVU sideline in a walking boot and a sweatshirt. At the beginning of the second half, McGrath spoke with Mountaineers’ head coach Neal Brown, and he confirmed that Greene was officially ruled out of Saturday night’s game.

Through his first three games, Greene completed 26 of 45 passes for 402 yards, while tossing in four touchdowns with no interceptions. In 2022, he accounted for nine total touchdowns in the last four games of the season.

Coming out of high school, Greene was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 534 overall player in America, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

The Mountaineers used a dominant defensive effort and some scrappy play from their backup quarterback, Nicco Marchiol, to come away with a 17-6 win at home in Morgantown. It was the first home win for WVU in the rivalry in over 10 years.

WVU star running back C.J. Donaldson had 18 carries for 102 rushing yards and a touchdown in the win. It was his first 100-yard game of the 2023 campaign.

Up next, West Virginia has to take on Texas Tech on Sept. 23rd. That one will take place at 3:30 PM EST. We’ll see if the Mountaineers can keep the momentum rolling. With the win, WVU moved to 2-1 overall on the 2023 campaign.