Brian Lewerke will get first start for Michigan Panthers this week

Former Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke will get his first start this weekend for the UFL’s Michigan Panthers.

For the first time in his Michigan Panthers career, Brian Lewerke will be QB1.

According to a report, the former Michigan State quarterback is filling in for the injured starter this week, acting as QB1 for the first time in his professional football career. Bryce Perkins will act as his backup.

Breaking: Brian Lewerke will start at Quarterback for the @USFLPanthers this week vs. DC, per the #UFL Depth Chart.

The former Michigan State standout has not started in a game since he played with the Alphas in The Spring League. Bryce Perkins is QB2. pic.twitter.com/xsAHddxFkV

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) May 10, 2024

Lewerke has appeared in just one game with the Panthers over the past two seasons, according to The Football Database. He has not yet accounted for any stats but that’s all going to change this weekend.

Michigan State fans remember Lewerke well. He was one of the most exciting athletes to play quarterback over the past couple of decades and if not for a shoulder injury in 2018, his career may have been completely different. It felt like coaching malpractice that he was allowed to play through this injury which affected his stats as well as his confidence. He never truly looked the same in 2018 and had a decent bounce-back in 2019 with 3,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. Lewerke signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent but never appeared in a regular-season game.

Lewerke finished his MSU career with over 8,000 passing yards and 47 touchdowns but never truly lived up to his potential because of that injury. If he played on any other team during the successful Michigan State football era under Mark Dantonio, he would’ve been an all-time great. He was a good quarterback on a bad team who tried to tough it out through injuries.

Now the Arizona native will be starting his first game since 2019 as he takes the field as QB1 on Sunday afternoon against the DC Defenders in Washington, D.C. The game will be at noon ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Oh, and Felton Davis III is excited for him.

Ohhhh the damage we would do on Saturday … but 🤷🏾‍♂️ https://t.co/Lx2G269sCj

— Felton Davis III (@TheFreak_18) May 11, 2024

Man, it’d be fun to watch those two link up again.