Dylan Raiola injury update: Matt Rhule details need for surgery, next steps

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola suffered a season-ending leg injury in this weekend’s loss to USC. Now, Matt Rhule has shared the first update on what this upcoming week looks like for the Cornhuskers’ quarterback as he prepares to undergo surgery.

During his press conference on Monday, Rhule confirmed that Raiola will undergo that season-ending surgery on a broken fibula later this week. With that came, per the doctors, an estimated rehab timeline of eight to twelve weeks.

“Dylan will have surgery this week,” said Rhule.

“I don’t want to start talking like I’m the doctor. I know what they told me. They said it could surgical, could be non-surgical. They said something like eight to twelve weeks. But, I don’t want to start getting into all that. But it is surgical. It was recommended surgery, so it’s not like a, hey, battle your way through it-type deal.”

Raiola has done what he can in the last day or so since the injury to remain a part of what they’re doing in Lincoln. But, with his surgery upcoming this week, Rhule also confirmed that he will not be traveling with them when they head out west this weekend to play UCLA.

“You know, he was out there at practice last night…Wants to be part of everything, but the most important thing for him right now is to get healed,” said Rhule. “So, you know, he wants to go to UCLA, and I told him he can’t go.”

Raiola exited after the second drive of the third quarter in Saturday night’s four-point loss to the Trojans. The injury occurred as he was brought down for a sack, which also resulted in a fumble that their offense recovered back, by two players. Raiola wanted to re-enter the game a time later after evaluation, but Rhule used caution in not allowing him back in. That was the right decision, as it was reported and confirmed on Sunday that he broke that fibula.

Raiola exited the game being 10-15 (66.7%) for 91 yards and a touchdown. That brought his final stats this season now to 72.4% completion for exactly 2,000 yards, averaging 222.2 per game, with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Raiola will have his season officially end within the next few days once he has his procedure, with the ‘Huskers now being led into their final four games with QB TJ Lateef. His rehab will then go on into next year, with that timeline projected at two to three months, in order to be back healthy in time for spring practice ahead of his junior year in college.