Liberty quarterback Ryan Burger has been "medically disqualified" from re-joining the team, Flames coach Jamey Chadwell announced Tuesday.
Burger, who narrowly lost the starting quarterback job to Ethan Vasko during fall camp, "suffered a set back last week during practice from a head injury, concussions that he's had," Liberty's coach said.
The second-year signal caller did not dress out during Saturday's season-opening win over Maine, joining the team on the sideline with his jersey on over street clothes.
"He's just had too many that would put himself in a [position where] if he got another one, that could jeopardize his future," Chadwell added. "So meeting with him and the doctors and everybody, we all feel like that was the best course of actions."
Burger was seen at practice on Tuesday morning and will remain with the program for the time being.
Enjoying your free access? Help support the local journalism you love. Subscribe
"He'll be helping us coach and being a student assistant while he finishes up his degree," Chadwell said. "We're disappointed for him. He put a lot of work in to come back from the injuries that he had."
Burger's injury last week is the third time since November 2024 that the Appalachian State transfer has been sidelined due to a concussion.
He remained healthy for much of the beginning of the season, but entered concussion protocol the first time following the game against Sam Houston State on Nov. 29, when he stepped in to relieve an injured Kaidon Salter under center. Salter was forced to return to the game and finish the last drive on an injured ankle.
Following Salter's transfer in December, Burger was reportedly cleared and elevated to QB1 for the Flames' Bahamas Bowl appearance against Buffalo. In the game, he departed after suffering what would have been a second head injury in roughly five weeks.
Burger was slow to re-join the team this spring, recovering from the lingering effects of the head injury. He did not participate in the spring game, but returned in the fall to battle Vasko for the job, eventually losing out one week before the season began.
In the time between that decision and Saturday's game, Burger suffered from a third head injury in almost nine months.
The Flames coach said Burger is at peace with his decision.
"It's got to be bigger than football for his future. You don't want to risk some type of serious history there," Chadwell said. "He's pretty good at schemes, and so we're gonna put him to work already."
The loss of Burger elevates third-string quarterback Michael Merdinger to backup, and creates a competition between redshirt freshman Jayden Bradford and true freshman Ethan Houck down the depth chart.
"[Mike] got quite a few reps there during the fall," Chadwell said. "We'll have to find some ways to give them some [snaps] just to see who that third one is."
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Bryson Gordon, (434) 385-5529
bgordon@newsadvance.com
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Bryson Gordon
Sports reporter
Author email Follow Bryson Gordon Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today