Purdue QB Painter questionable vs. Michigan

From NCAA College Football Information & Resource

October 29, 2008

Painter's status against UM is questionable.

Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter is ruled questionable for the Michigan game Saturday after a slight shoulder injury sustained from last weekend's loss to Minnesota.

Painter sustained a first-degree right shoulder separation against the Golden Gophers which could force him to sit out against the Wolverines and in the process, break his nation-leading streak of 40 consecutive starts.

"It will be more up to the player than anyone else," head coach Joe Tiller said. "He's the guy that knows how he feels. I trust Curtis and I think he's honest. I think if he can go, he'll say he can go."

The Boilermakers will have to rely on redshirt freshman Justin Siller if Painter can't go since second-stringer Joey Elliott suffered an injury against Northwestern on Oct. 18, sustaining a fifth-degree (severe) separation of his right, throwing shoulder.

Regardless of whether Painter plays or not, Tiller said that Siller will get more snaps in practice this week. Siller switched to the running back spot and has not practiced under center since. He switched back to his original position against the Wildcats. Both Painter and Siller are listed as co-No.1 quarterbacks on the depth chart.

"We assume we're going to have him (Painter), but we need to prepare as though we're not going to have him," Siller said. "The fact that we're going to practice Justin more this week would also suggest that you're going to see Justin, no matter what the status of Curtis is."

True freshman Caleb TerBush will be seeing more work in practice as well in case he will be needed on the field. Tiller said that they will try to keep him redshirted.

"That's one of the positions where it's most valuable if a guy can redshirt," Tiller said. "But we need to be as efficient as we can, so today we're going to give him a lot of reps."

Purdue's performance this season parallels the struggles of Painter who entered this season with very high expectations. Against Minnesota, the Boilermakers managed to record only 109 yards passing which ranks as the fewest in Tiller's 12 seasons. The team has also not reached the endzone in 14 of the last 17 quarters.

The normally efficient Painter has been off, with the Boilers on the midst of a five-game losing streak. He has completed only 54 percent of his passes for 1,008 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions during that stretch.

[edit]