Maryland football backup quarterback Max Bortenschlager has undergone season-ending ankle surgery, according to a team spokesperson.
Bortenschlager, who opened the campaign as the Terps’ third-string option, made eight starts in 2017 after Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill both suffered season-ending ACL injuries. This year, Bortenschlager featured as the placeholder on field goal and extra-point attempts.
Bortenschlager was not at Maryland’s open practice Tuesday, and Tyler DeSue took third-team reps.
In eight games last year, Bortenschlager threw for 1,313 yards and 10 touchdowns with five interceptions. Maryland went 2-6 in games he started.
Reached Tuesday night, a team spokesperson did not know when Bortenschlager’s injury occurred or when he underwent surgery.
Hill has been Maryland’s starting quarterback through four games this year, but Pigrome has rotated in, mainly as a running threat. Hill has completed 42 of 76 passes for 516 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, providing enough aerial support for a run-first offense to lead the team to a 3-1 start.
Maryland just came off its bye week, and interim head coach Matt Canada said Tuesday that the break helped heal an injury-filled team heading into its matchup with No. 15 Michigan.
“The bye week gives you a chance to get some of those guys back,” Canada said. “We’ll kind of see where we are today, tomorrow, Thursday and we’ll see where we go Saturday. Right now, we’re hopeful that everyone will be back.”
The Terps should have their whole starting offensive line back healthy after ample rotation throughout the year. Both starting safeties — Darnell Savage and Antwaine Richardson — left Maryland’s contest with Minnesota with injuries, and Canada didn’t provide specifics on their condition.
The team will be without two of its top running back options this weekend. Jake Funk will miss his fourth straight game with a broken hand, Canada announced, and Lorenzo Harrison is out for the season following knee surgery.
Canada said Tuesday that Harrison “made a great run” during practice last week before suffering a non-contact injury. The junior tailback had missed the previous two games with a strained hamstring. His Friday surgery was successful, Canada said.
This story has been updated.
