TCU QB Max Duggan’s status uncertain for 2020 season

Add another one to the reasons why 2020 sucks list.

But maybe this one has a positive attached.

It was announced Thursday evening that TCU Football sophomore quarterback, and presumed starter, Max Duggan would likely miss several games for the Horned Frogs this fall, and that the status of his 2020 campaign as a whole was in doubt.

In a zoom call with “select media” (thanks for the invite, guys), Coach Patterson revealed that “Max has a condition that he’s had his whole life and we caught it. Right now he’s in a good place and hopefully he’ll be getting back some time during the season. Right now we’ll be going forward with the rest of the quarterbacks. It’s a thing he was born with and I’m just glad we found it; I can say that.”

Ultimately, it’s obviously a good thing that the condition was discovered now — before it could be further detrimental to his health. But it’s obviously a huge hit to the Horned Frogs’ program, one that has had depth issues at the key position for several seasons now.

In Duggan’s place, we will likely see a battle between current #2 Matthew Downing, a former walk-on by way of Georgia who was put on scholarship prior to his sophomore season, and transfer Stephon Brown, a highly-rated recruit in his own right who was the number one dual-threat QB in the country at the juco level. Brown is a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder who threw for over 1,400 yards with 16 scores while adding nearly 600 yards with 8 more scores on the ground in his final season at Independence C.C.

Duggan had high expectations in year two after going 181 for 339 passing for 2,077 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushing for 555 yards and six TDs. With a bevy of talented receivers at his disposal and a young but potentially very exciting backfield behind him, hopes were high for the offense after an inconsistent 2019.

But now, once again, there are more questions than answers at the most important position on the field, and the Frogs are back to the drawing board.

Most importantly, we wish nothing but the best for Max, and hope that he returns to full health — and football if he’s able — soon.