Phil Jurkovec Warms Up as TE Before Notre Dame Game

The Pitt Panthers' opening day starting quarterback appears to have made his position switch.

SOUTH BEND -- The position change for the Pitt Panthers' starting quarterback on opening day may not be affirmed on paper but in practice, Phil Jurkovec appears to have made a switch. 

Prior to kickoff against No. 14 Notre Dame, Jurkovec did not warm up with the quarterbacks. Instead, he donned a pair of gloves and caught passes with the other receivers and tight ends on the field. 

Head coach Pat Narduzzi acknowledged that Jurkovec had been working out at tight end and participating on kickoff and punt teams during practice, but said there has been no official position change for him. Narduzzi had denied that Jurkovec was palying tight end up until that point. 

During the small portion of practice open to the media this week, Jurkovec did not work with the signal-callers and spent time running routes and practicing blocking with tight ends coach Tim Salem. 

Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette originally reported Jurkovec's position change during the Panthers' bye week, when he was benched as the starting quarterback. Two weeks later, he was demoted to third string on the depth chart behind Nate Yarnell and new starter Christian Veilleux. 

He has yet to appear in a game for Pitt this year as anything other than a quarterback. 

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