Green Wave QB Michael Pratt Out vs. Rebels, Kai Horton To Start

Tulane will be without starter Michael Pratt in its first top-25 matchup of the season.

Ole Miss looks to prove its 73-7 win over Mercer was the start of something promising. It can do so with a win over No. 24 Tulane on the road.

The good news for the No. 20 Rebels? The Green Wave's x-factor will be sidelined for Week 2.

According to ESPN, Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt will not play Saturday against the Rebels due to a knee injury. Pratt was expected to be a game-time decision after being limited in practice throughout the week.

Pratt injured his left knee against South Alabama during the fourth quarter in the Green Wave's season opener. During the final scoring drive, Pratt sprinted out of the pocket on a third-and-10 play and got hit awkwardly by South Alabama safety Jaden Voisin.

Michael Pratt is not with the Tulane quarterbacks warming up pregame, which means he’s not playing against Ole Miss today. https://t.co/btbT61kNMH

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 9, 2023

Pratt was expected to warm up before the game to see how he felt, but did not particpate in drills at Yulman Stadium. Redshirt sophomore Kai Horton will make his first start of the season in place of the senior standout. 

Picking up where he left off, Pratt played one of the best games of any quarterback in Week 1 against the Jaguars. He finished 14-for-15 with four touchdown passes and ran for 39 yards as Tulane cruised to a 37-17 victory.

Pratt was pivotal in Tulane's 11-2 turnaround in 2022, culminating in a win over No. 10 USC in the Cotton Bowl. He threw for 3,010 yards and 27 touchdowns against five interceptions while also totaling 478 rush yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Pratt has started 36 career games for the Green Wave since 2020. He's thrown for over 7,400 yards and posted a 72-21 touchdown-to-interception ratio. This offseason, Pratt fielded offers from Power 5 programs and was considered a sleeper NFL draft prospect, but elected to return for one more season instead of hitting the transfer portal.

Horton isn't a slouch option under center, having led Tulane to a 27-24 overtime victory against Houston with three passing touchdowns. Last season, he completed 56.5 percent of his throws for 165 yard and three touchdowns.

Tulane, the preseason favorite to repeat at AAC Champions, last played Ole Miss in Oxford in 2021. Matt Corral threw for 335 yards and scored seven touchdowns en route to a 61-21 victory. The Rebels haven't lost to the Green Wave since 1987. 

The Rebels kick off at 2:30 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.