Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke shocked the entire college football world when the news broke that he had played the entire 2024 football season with a re-torn ACL. Rourke didn't only have that injury to deal with, but also a broken thumb during the season, and still was able to lead the Hoosiers to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Now that his college career is over, Rourke is looking ahead to the NFL, and thanks to an invite, he is currently at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rourke spoke with the media today and gave some updates on his injury.
Rourke shared with the media that he knew he had partially torn his ACL before the season but didn't realize it was fully torn till he had an MRI after the season in January that confirmed it. Rourke had surgery on his knee again in early January and is still rehabbing, but believes he will be ready to go by the time NFL training camps start.
Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke, who played through a torn ACL and broken thumb and led Indiana to the CFP in 2024, said training camp is a realistic possibility for his return
— Joe Clark (@jclark1233) February 28, 2025
The Canada native showed great growth and strength in the 2024 season, putting together the best season in his football career. Rourke threw for 3,042 yards, about 200 yards less than his career, but that was after missing a game and a half this season with a broken thumb. He also threw 29 touchdowns, a career-high, and five interceptions, one short of his career-low.
Even with the injuries and missing a game and a half, Rourke still led his team to their best season in program history and their first-ever College Football Playoff. The experienced player-caller had quite the line for NFL teams looking to draft him.
"I told teams that if I did that on a torn ACL and a broken thumb, imagine what I can do when I'm fully healthy," Rourke told the media at the NFL Combine.
Rourke will showcase his skills at the Combine on Saturday, March 1 on NFL Network.