Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke Gets Big Injury Update Ahead of NFL Draft: Will Miss Entire 2025 Season
In a stunning development just days ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke has received a devastating injury update that is expected to drastically alter his draft stock and immediate future in football. Rourke, a highly touted prospect and the heart of Indiana’s 2024 offense, has been ruled out for the entire 2025 season following a severe setback in his rehabilitation process.
Sources close to the program confirmed that Rourke re-aggravated a previously undisclosed knee injury during a private pre-draft workout with an NFL team. While initial reports downplayed the severity, medical evaluations revealed a complete ACL tear coupled with additional ligament damage, requiring reconstructive surgery and a grueling 12 to 15 months of recovery.
Once projected as a mid-to-late round sleeper, Rourke’s draft status is now shrouded in uncertainty. NFL insiders say several teams have removed him from their boards entirely for this year, instead eyeing a potential 2026 comeback. One NFC South scout noted, “It’s heartbreaking. Rourke has the poise, accuracy, and intelligence we love in a developmental QB. But with this timeline, you’re drafting a ghost for a year.”
Rourke, a transfer from Ohio University, shined in his lone year at Indiana. He threw for 3,412 yards and 27 touchdowns, guiding the Hoosiers to a surprise 8-4 record and their first bowl win in nearly a decade. His command of the pocket, quick release, and ability to read defenses earned praise across the Big Ten. Many believed he was ascending at the right moment, entering the draft process with momentum and maturity.
But the injury casts a long shadow. He will undergo surgery next week at the Andrews Institute in Florida, with rehabilitation set to begin immediately. In a statement released by Indiana Athletics, Rourke expressed both disappointment and determination: “This is not how I envisioned entering the next chapter of my career. But I’m not done. I’ll attack rehab the same way I attack the game — with everything I’ve got.”
Support has poured in from teammates, coaches, and fans. Indiana head coach Tom Allen called Rourke “one of the toughest and most driven leaders” he’s coached. “This is a brutal setback, but if anyone can come back stronger, it’s Kurtis,” Allen said.
Despite the grim update, some analysts believe a team could still take a late-round flyer on Rourke, stashing him on injured reserve with the hope of developing him long-term. Others think he’ll go undrafted but sign with a team once healthy.
One thing is clear: Rourke’s NFL journey just became more complicated — but it’s far from over.
