This weekend, the Pitt Panthers could be without starting quarterback Eli Holstein when they host the Clemson Tigers. Currently, Holstein is listed as a game-time decision due to a head injury.
"He's not been cleared yet," Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said on Thursday. "So it'll be a game-time decision. So we'll just continue to wait. Make sure that we take care of our guys."
Holstein has started the last two games for the Panthers but in each, he exited before the game was over. On November 2nd against SMU, he completed 29 of 48 passes for 248 yards and one pick. Then, last week against Virginia, he was 10 of 23 passing for 121 yards with no touchdowns or picks. Pitt lost both of those games after starting the season 7-0.
Prior to that, Holstein had two games in which he passed for 133 yards or fewer. That means that one of the top 30 passing teams in the country hasn't had a QB throw for over 250 yards in a game since October 5th in a ten-point win at North Carolina.
Prior to that, though, Holstein had been on fire. He opened the season by throwing for over 300 yards in four of the first five games. For the season, he has passed for 2,177 yards and 17 TDs with 6 interceptions. He's completed 61.9% of his passes as well.
If Holstein isn't able to play this weekend, Nate Yarnell will likely get the starting job against Clemson. This year, he's appeared in 6 games but he has not attempted more than 12 passes in any of them. What's more, last week against Virginia, he was only 4 of 12 passing for 44 yards with one TD and two picks.
Needless to say, the Clemson defense is going to have an edge if Holstein can't play. He has been the leader of the Panther's offense this year and as he's gone so too has his team's offense.
So keep an eye on the Pitt injury report ahead of Saturday's game. That's because whether or not Holstein plays will be a major story worth monitoring.