Pitt QB Eli Holstein to start out vs. Louisville

Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein will return from injury to start Saturday against Louisville, according to multiple reports.

Holstein left two games within the past month with apparent head injuries.

He departed the Panthers’ 41-13 win over Syracuse on Oct. 24 after taking a hit on a run, but he played the following week in a 48-25 loss to then-No. 20 SMU. Against Virginia the next week, he left with an apparent head injury while sliding at the end of a run in a 24-19 loss.

Holstein dressed but did not play last Saturday in the Panthers’ third straight loss, when then-No. 17 Clemson scored a touchdown with 1:16 remaining to win 24-20.

Holstein was medically cleared earlier in the week but Pitt (7-3, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters Thursday he wasn’t sure who would be starting.

“I don’t know, it’s a great question, we’ll see … we’ll see,” Narduzzi said at his weekly news conference. “And again, it’s still a work in progress. He’s cleared to play right now, so we’ll see game time.”

Holstein won the starting job in training camp. A transfer from Alabama, Holstein has a completion rate of 61.9 percent (177 of 286) and has thrown for 2,177 yards with 17 TDs and six interceptions in nine games.

He is also Pitt’s second-leading rusher with 323 yards and three touchdowns.

Nate Yarnell started against Clemson and completed 34 of 54 pass attempts for 350 yards.

–Field Level Media