BREAKING NEWS: Quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s injury not related to previous shoulder problem
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the game in the second quarter Saturday against Maryland and never returned. Indiana coach Tom Allen, who always refuses to talk about the specifics of injuries, did at least say that Saturday's injury had nothing to do with the shoulder injury that forced Penix to miss two-plus games in September.
"It's not related to that,'' Allen said after the game. "I don't have an update on Michael Penix at this juncture. I don't think it's a long-time thing, but we decided to hold him out in the second half. We'll know more (Sunday) with all of that.''
Junior Peyton Ramsey, a two-year starter who was beaten out by Penix in fall camp, played well off the bench. He was 20-for-27 passing for 193 yards and a touchdown and had several key runs that kept drives alive.
"I'm just so proud of Peyton Ramsey. What an awesome young man,'' Allen said. "He really proved his worth to his teammates today.''
Penix had been playing great early against the Terrapins, throwing for 141 yards and a touchdown, and had Indiana in in the lead early. He actually ran the ball well too, but when he was forced to scramble on a play, he was hit hard, wrapped up and taken to the ground hard
He stayed in the game and finished the series, which carried over into the second quarter. But when the Hoosiers got the ball back, he had been replaced by Ramsey.
Penix was evaluated in the tent behind the Indiana bench while Ramsey was on the field, and then went straight to the locker room afterward. He never returned to the sideline and wasn't available after the game.
This is the second time Penix has been injured this season. Just prior to halftime in the Eastern Illinois game in Week 2, Penix took a hit and suffered a left shoulder injury. He didn't return in that game, which was out of hand anyway, but then missed games against Ohio State, a 51-10 loss, and Connecticut, a 38-3 win for the Hoosiers where Ramsey completed 23 of 27 passes.
Ramsey still has the faith of his teammates, and that hasn't wavered even with Penix winning the job. On the season now, Ramsey is 59 of 80 passing, an astonishing 73.8 percent, and he's thrown for 650 yards and five touchdowns,
"The poise that Peyton has, because he's played so much, he's just a gamer,'' Indiana tight end Peyton Hendershot said after the game. "He'll do anything to help us win.
"Everybody on the team still loves him and has so much respect for him. When Mike went down, he came and no one doubted him at all.''
Any updates on Penix's health probably won't come until Allen meets with the media on Monday.
