Clayton Thorson starts against Purdue

Eight months and one day ago, Clayton Thorson was carted off the field at Nissan Stadium after suffering a gruesome right knee injury.

For just a moment, Northwestern basked in warmth of a Music City Bowl victory. Then, a long shadow of doubt was cast, confirming the worst. On Jan. 2, an MRI revealed that Thorson had suffered a torn ACL, unleashing a fusillade of questions surrounding the star quarterback’s ability to return for the 2018 season opener, Aug. 30.

Tonight, Thorson didn’t need to evade the question he’s been asked all summer like it were the defensive line of a Big Ten foe; “will you be ready to play at Purdue?” He merely showed us.

With a brace on his surgically repaired right knee, Thorson started on Thursday against Purdue. Backup TJ Green could still see situational snaps, I’m sure he’s been practicing his quarterback sneaks.

Regardless of the outcome in the season opener, Northwestern will leave West Lafayette with a huge win. It has its quarterback again.