Surgery scheduled for Plummer; O'Connell becomes Purdue's starting quarterback Coach Jeff Brohm isn't optimistic receiver Rondale Moore returns for Saturday's game at Northwestern

Mike Carmin | Journal & Courier

Show Caption Hide Caption Purdue's Jeff Brohm: Monday press conference The Boilermakers face Northwestern this week

WEST LAFAYETTE – Although Purdue didn’t issue a new depth chart Monday, here’s how the quarterback position looks going into Saturday’s matchup at Northwestern:

► Aidan O’Connell.

► Paul Piferi.

► Danny Carollo.

► Scanning the roster for emergency quarterbacks.

Those unfamiliar names are a result of injuries to the position, including the latest setback to Jack Plummer. The redshirt freshman suffered a broken right ankle in Saturday’s victory over Nebraska and is likely done for the season.

After seeing a doctor Monday, Plummer will undergo surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday, a team spokesman said Monday afternoon. If you’re thinking Elijah Sindelar is a candidate to return, the fifth-year senior probably isn’t an option.

Sindelar suffered a concussion against Vanderbilt, missed the loss to Texas Christian and sustained a broken clavicle against Minnesota and underwent surgery.

“I’m not optimistic Elijah will be back this year, but I don’t want to rule it out completely,” coach Jeff Brohm said at his weekly press conference.

Plummer is the third quarterback Purdue has lost this season. Nick Sipe retired from football after dealing with back issues.

The offense moves ahead with O’Connell, who led the Boilermakers on the game-winning drive to beat the Huskers. He guided the offense 82 yards in 12 plays, capped by David Bell’s 9-yard reverse with 1:08 to play.

Plummer was injured after a 14-yard scramble with 7:55 to play when O’Connell entered the game. It was O'Connell's third appearance at quarterback this season. He played briefly at Penn State and saw extended time in the loss to Illinois.

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Brohm will devise a game plan to lean on O’Connell’s strengths but also protect the sophomore – and the quarterback position – from suffering another injury. O'Connell began the year as the team's No. 3 quarterback.

Piferi is a true freshman who hasn't played and isn't in danger of losing his redshirt season if he has to enter the game. Carollo is the team's holder on field goals and extra points and serves as the pooch punter inside the 50-yard line.

“We’re at a point where we can’t lose another one,” Brohm said. “You do want to somewhat protect him to a certain degree. He’s not as good a runner as Jack or even Elijah – it’s not his strength. We have to do what he does best and that will be an adjustment and also keeping him healthy will be an adjustment as well.”

Jared Sparks would be an option but the former quarterback who is now a receiver hasn’t played since the loss at Iowa. He suffered an ankle injury against Vanderbilt has struggled to return and likely won’t be available this week. Brohm said linebacker Cornel Jones probably won’t play against the Wildcats.

And now the weekly Rondale Moore update. Moore suffered a hamstring injury in the Sept. 28 loss to Minnesota.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Brohm said. “It’s gotten to a point where I’m not optimistic about anything until I see what we need to see. At this point, I’m not optimistic about this week but we’ll see how it progresses.”

Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter @carmin_jc

SATURDAY'S GAME

Purdue (3-6, 2-4) at Northwestern (1-7, 0-6)

Time: Noon

TV: BTN

Radio: WAZY (96.5)