There was nothing “questionable” about Dan Persa’s status Thursday. From every indication, he will be ready for Northwestern’s next game – an Oct. 1 skirmish at Illinois following Saturday’s bye.
“I’d be shocked if he doesn’t play,” NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
So would Persa: “At this point, I don’t consider myself injured anymore. I have the same percentage of getting injured as anyone else. I’m cleared and ready to go.”
Persa also was medically cleared for the Army game, but he and the coaches decided beforehand that he hadn’t practiced enough during the week.
So when quarterback Kain Colter faltered in the second half, the Wildcats turned to Trevor Siemian.
“They made a decision for me, which is fine,” Persa said.
Persa hasn’t played since firing the winning touchdown pass against Iowa on Nov. 13. He had surgery that night to repair a ruptured right Achilles’ tendon and has been resting and rehabbing it ever since.
Fitzgerald said he does not think Persa will be rusty.
“I think he already had that earlier in (fall) camp,” he said. “In two-a-days, the rhythm was not there. We’re light years from that.”
Said Persa: “I’m maybe not 100 percent as fast, but I’m pretty damn close.”
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, Teddy Greenstein
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