Agent Makes Stunning Claim About Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke Injury During Historic Season
For Kurtis Rourke, who transferred to Indiana from Ohio to join coach Curt Cignetti as a sixth-year senior, the 2024 season proved fruitful. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection after throwing for 3,042 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the conference in yards per attempt (9.5) and rating (176.0).
He also raised his profile significantly as he led the Hoosiers to a shocking 11-2 record and the school’s first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. That’s probably enough to find himself drafted when the NFL makes its seven rounds of picks in April.
But some stunning news hit on Friday about Rourke, who had previously torn his ACL in 2022 while playing for Ohio. Several outlets reported that Rourke re-tore the ACL in his knee last summer, before the start of the season, and played on a bum knee throughout the magical 2024 season.
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke
© Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media got the news first, via agent Casey Muir, and wrote on Twitter/X, “Indiana star QB Kurtis Rourke, a 2025 NFL Draft prospect, will undergo ACL revision surgery Wednesday, per his agent Casey Muir at @octagonfootball. Rourke is believed to have re-torn his ACL in August — yet amazingly played and led the Hoosiers to the playoff. One tough dude.”
The Indianapolis Star added to that report: “Per IndyStar’s source, Rourke partially tore the ACL during the summer. Pelissero reported the full tear was believed to have occurred in August. Rourke did not alert Indiana’s medical team to any further discomfort or aggravation after the initial injury, and thus no new examination or imaging was conducted across the course of the season itself.”
It’s possible that Rourke could be ready to play next season if he is drafted this year. But more likely, he will be taken as a flier to see how he develops in rehab and practice, and whether he has a viable NFL future.
Pro Football Focus has Rourke rated as the No. 10 quarterback in the draft, projected to be a fourth- or fifth-round pick.
