Inside The Panthers

Pitt QB Phil Jurkovec Knocked Out of UNC Game

Pitt Panthers quarterback Phil Jurkovec was replaced by Christian Veilleux.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt QB Phil Jurkovec Knocked Out of UNC Game
Pitt QB Phil Jurkovec Knocked Out of UNC Game /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers finally made a quarterback change, but not for the reason anyone expected. Phil Jurkovec came out of the game after a North Carolina defender laid a hard hit on his head and backup Christian Veilleux came in to replace him. 

Tayon Halloway laid a brutal hit on Jurkovec as he was being tackled, leading with his head into Jurkovec's helmet. He was flagged for targeting and eventually ejected, but Pitt's offensive line made sure to get some words in to defend their starting quarterback. 

Jurkovec stood on the sidelines with his helmet as Veilleux completed one pass for 15 yards to bring up a 58-yard field goal attempt from Ben Sauls, which he missed as the second quarter clock expired. Jurkovec did not return to the game with what was described as an "undisclosed injury," according to a Pitt spokesperson. 

In three games as the starting quarterback for the Panthers this season, Jurkovec completed 46.7% of his passes for 474 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. 

After consecutive poor games against West Virginia and North Carolina, fans had been calling for him to be benched, but he turned in one of his stronger halves as a Panther against North Carolina, completing 11 of 15 passes for 109 yards and rushing four times for 26 yards. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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