Eli Holstein injury update: Pittsburgh quarterback leaves game vs. West Virginia in red zone

Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein was injured in the low red zone late in the second quarter of a game against West Virginia. He came out of the game, at least temporarily.

Holstein was shaken up on a play where he carried the ball out of the backfield. He was wrapped up under multiple defenders, then hit a knee and motioned for trainers to come over.

They walked him off the field on his own power, as the backup quarterback came in. Pittsburgh was facing a second-and-goal from the 5-yard line. Immediately, backup quarterback Cole Gonzales entered the contest and fired a pass to the flats well over the head of his receiver.

Eli Holstein checked back in on the next play. He fired an incompletion on third-and-goal, forcing a field goal attempt, which was made. That cut the West Virginia lead to 7-3 just before the half. Meanwhile, sideline reporter Quint Kessenich reported on Holstein’s brief trip to the injury tent.

“You need a good cut man in your corner,” Kessenich said. “Eli Holstein ducks into the injury tent, they tape him together, stitch him up, he’s back in the ballgame.”

More on Eli Holstein

The sophomore quarterback from Zachary, La., is coming off an extremely good freshman campaign for the Panthers. He has already shown signs of growth as a sophomore, too.

Eli Holstein threw for 2,225 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, while throwing just seven interceptions. He also ran for 328 yards and three scores.

So far this season, Holstein has gone 36-of-51 passing for 519 yards, with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s clearly the guy the Panthers trust under center, but he’ll have his work cut out for him against West Virginia.

Holstein was 12-of-23 passing for 170 yards in the game against the Mountaineers. However, he had been picked off once and had not yet thrown for a touchdown in the game at the time of this writing.

West Virginia led 7-3 at the half. Pittsburgh won last year’s meeting, though results in the last three years have been mixed — Pittsburgh has won two of the last three.