Mickey Joseph: Casey Thompson suffered arm injury vs Illinois, considered day to day

When Casey Thompson left Nebraska’s game against Illinois with an injury, he didn’t move his right arm much as he headed toward the sideline. Mickey Joseph provided some more insight as to the severity of the injury after the game.

Thompson suffered an elbow injury, Joseph told reporters after the game. The interim Nebraska headman didn’t have many more details at the time of his postgame press conference, but said Thompson is considered day to day.

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“We’re getting him checked out right now,” Joseph said. “He’s probably going to be day-to-day until — I’ll have more on him probably tomorrow after we finish with the doctors.”

After Thompson took the hit from multiple Illinois defenders, he sat on the turf for a few moments looking at his hand. As he walked toward the sideline, he kept his arm completely still. Joseph said Thompson lost feeling after the play.

“He got jammed on the elbow and kind of hit the nerve,” Joseph said. “He couldn’t feel his fingers and his hand was numb.”

Logan Smothers initially replaced Casey Thompson after his injury

Thompson threw an interception and was knocked to the ground as he threw. After evaluation on the sideline, he headed to the locker room with the training staff.

Interestingly, Logan Smothers came in to replace Thompson at quarterback instead of backup Chubba Purdy. Smothers had only taken two snaps all season prior to entering the game. Purdy, meanwhile, stood on the sideline with his helmet on before starting the second half under center.

Illinois capitalized on the interception as star running back Chase Brown ran in a touchdown to re-take the lead, 13-9, over the Huskers at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The Fighting Illini eventually left Nebraska with a 26-9 victory.

Thompson is in his first season with Nebraska after transferring from Texas prior to the season. Through seven games this season, he has 1,851 yards and 11 touchdowns to his name. It seems like he’s settling in well this year, and had some high praise for interim coach Mickey Joseph this week.