NIU quarterback still listed as questionable for Saturday

NIU head coach Jerry Kill confirmed Tuesday that NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish had knee surgery last Tuesday after suffering a right knee injury against Toledo.

“It’s not a major thing,” Kill said. “It’s not going to keep him out for the rest of the year. He will be back. Optimistically, I was told there’s a chance he could play this week.”

Harnish will be re-evaluated Wednesday.

Kill said if Harnish is unable to go, backup quarterback DeMarcus Grady will start for the second straight week.

Grady, who started his first game of the year against Miami (Ohio), threw for 60 yards and ran for 55 more in the 27-22 win. It was apparent that the coaching staff ran a more conservative offense.

“I don’t think you can ask any coach in the country that loses their number one quarterback that there game plan doesn’t change,” Kill said. “You have to scale back, you can’t do everything because [Grady] isn’t used to doing everything.”

Grady was 6-of-10 passing while the Huskies ran the ball 39 times for 202 yards.

Kill also left open the possibility of putting third-string quarterback Ryan Morris under center in certain situations.

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