Dylan Raiola injury: Matt Rhule reveals the advice he has given to Nebraska QB

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola is two weeks removed from undergoing successful surgery to heal his broke fibula. The sophomore QB will now shift his focus to his recovery for the rest of the season.

Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule revealed some of the advice he’s given to Raiola as he begins his rehab. Interestingly, it has nothing to do with his physical recovery at all.

“I just keep encouraging him. I’m like, ‘Hey, journal, bro.’ Just write down everything right down,” Rhule said. “I think it’s one of the best things men can do, is to just write down every day how they’re feeling. What they’re going through, what they’ve learned in the good times and in the bad.

“When I told the team I was staying, I read off like the journal from the day I got fired in Carolina, what I thought was my darkest moment. (It was) just the way I felt. So you can’t be the competitor that he is and not have some tough days. At the same time, it’s an unbelievable opportunity for him to see football from another standpoint.”

Raiola finished his second season under Rhule with 2,000 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, compared to just six interceptions. He posted an impressive 72.4% completion percentage before being shut down for the rest of the season.

True freshman quarterback TJ Lateef has replaced Raiola under center after his injury. Lateef earned his first career start against UCLA last week — a 28-21 win for the Huskers. The young QB completed 13 of his 15 passing attempts for 205 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Meanwhile, Raiola’s attention is no longer on the field, but on healing his leg and being ready for his junior year in 2026. It’s going to be a long road to recovery ahead, but Rhule is hoping his QB1 will make the most out of his unfortunate situation.

“My hope is that he’ll make this into the best thing that ever happened him,” Rhule said. “And that’s why I keep encouraging him to write it down.”

With his injury, Rhule also said that he’s unsure whether Raiola will physically be able to travel with the team anymore this season. That means he’ll most likely be watching Saturday’s matchup at Penn State from Lincoln. However, they’ll host Iowa to end the regular season. It remains to be seen if he takes to the sideline for that game.

Kickoff between the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers on Saturday is set for 7 p.m. ET. NBC will carry the national broadcast.