Pitt LB Quintin Wirginis out for the year with knee injury

Pitt’s had relatively good luck with injuries this season despite the rocky start. That came to an end when it was announced senior LB Quintin Wirginis suffered a non-contact injury in practice, and had surgery to end his season.

Wirginis has been far away Pitt’s best defensive player so far this season. He leads the team in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles.

He was huge in Pitt’s win over Cuse yesterday with 8 tackles, a sack, and the stripped ball that led to Pitt tying the game at 14. Pat Narduzzi has called Wirginis the best linebacker he’s ever coached, and Wirginis’ season to date was backing him up. I think he was heading for a 2nd team if not 1st All ACC nod if his season kept up the way it was.

Wirginis is a senior, and one would assume this is the end of his career, but Pitt did not use that word at all in its release. Pitt will likely try to get a hardship waiver because Wirginis also missed most of last season with an injury. Pitt’s had pretty good luck getting waivers in the past (Taysir Mack being the most recent example), so Wirginis just might not be done.

We wish Quintin a speedy recovery.