Villanova coach Andy Talley has ruled John Robertson out of Thursday night's game against Philadelphia rival Penn while they await MRI results on the All-American quarterback's injured right knee.
Robertson, the 2014 FCS player of the year, was injured on a carry in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 28-21 victory over Delaware.
Redshirt freshman Zach Bednarczyk came off the bench to rally the Wildcats (2-1) from behind and will get the start against the visiting Quakers (0-1).
"When the backup guy comes in and literally wins the game for you with his arm and his feet, there's a buoyancy there that's uplifting," Talley said on the CAA Football coaches conference call. "I think if a guy just finishes up a game and now you've lost your star quarterback, it's a little bit of a downer. But a lot of our players really feel confident that we can win with Zach. He is a good player."
Robertson has faced injuries in the last year. He played some of his junior season with a fracture in his non-throwing hand and later missed Villanova's loss to Sam Houston State in the FCS playoff quarterfinals with a concussion.
Bednarczyk was named the CAA's rookie of the week on Monday. He won't have tackles Brad Seaton (knee) and Ethan Greenidge (high ankle sprain) to protect him after they were injured against Delaware.