Missouri Quarterback’s Season in Jeopardy After First-Play Injury
Thursday night’s dominant victory for the Missouri Tigers over Central Arkansas was overshadowed by a potentially season-ending injury to quarterback Sam Horn. What should have been a celebratory 61-6 win instead left the team and coaching staff with mixed emotions as they await news on their redshirt junior signal-caller’s condition. Horn, who had been competing with Penn State transfer Beau Pribula for the starting quarterback position, suffered what appeared to be a serious lower-body injury on his very first snap of the game, casting a somber mood over an otherwise impressive team performance.
The injury occurred during Missouri’s second offensive series with the Tigers already leading 6-0. Horn entered the game and immediately ran for a 6-yard gain before taking a hit that left him unable to get up without assistance. The severity of the injury became apparent as medical staff helped him off the field while teammates looked on with concern. Horn would later be seen on the sidelines with a full leg brace and crutches, raising serious questions about his availability for the remainder of the season. Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz expressed his disappointment after the game, saying the injuries to Horn and teammate Blake Craig “take the damper a little bit off the win.” The team plans to conduct an MRI on Friday to determine the full extent of Horn’s injury.
With Horn’s unfortunate exit, Beau Pribula appears to have secured the starting quarterback role by default, though his performance certainly justified the position regardless of the circumstances. Pribula was impressive throughout the contest, completing 23 of 28 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 65 yards and two scores on the ground. Coach Drinkwitz was careful not to frame Pribula’s performance as stepping up in response to Horn’s injury, instead noting that the Penn State transfer “was just continuing to play the way he was playing.” The coach praised Pribula’s handling of the situation while expressing disappointment about Horn’s “heck of a run” ending in injury.
The quarterback competition had been one of the major storylines for Missouri heading into the season opener, with both players still battling for the starting role when Thursday’s game kicked off. The coaching staff had planned to give both quarterbacks significant playing time to help determine who would ultimately claim the job, but Horn’s injury after just one play abruptly ended what was expected to be an extended evaluation process. Now, instead of focusing on a quarterback controversy, the team must rally around Pribula while hoping for the best regarding Horn’s recovery timeline.
For Horn, the injury represents a devastating setback in what was shaping up to be a pivotal season in his college career. After patiently waiting for his opportunity and competing throughout spring and fall camps, to have his season potentially derailed on his very first play is particularly cruel. The redshirt junior had shown promise and improvement, earning his chance to compete for the starting job, making the timing of this injury all the more unfortunate. His teammates’ immediate concern as he remained on the ground highlighted the personal impact beyond just the football implications.
The Missouri Tigers now face the challenge of maintaining their momentum while processing the emotional impact of losing a key player and teammate. Their dominant 61-6 victory demonstrated the team’s potential, but the path forward will require adjustments both strategically and emotionally. As they await more definitive news on Horn’s condition, the focus shifts to supporting their injured teammate while preparing for the challenges ahead with Pribula leading the offense. For Coach Drinkwitz and his staff, the impressive season-opening win now comes with the additional task of helping the team navigate this unexpected adversity as they continue their 2024 campaign.
