Illinois quarterback Jon Beutjer will miss the rest of the Illini's 2003 season because of a herniated disk in his back, the team announced Tuesday.

"It's an athlete's worst nightmare, being out for the season," Beutjer said Tuesday after the Illini's practice. "It's my senior year. I don't know what the future holds for me here or in the future in the NFL, so it's disappointing."

Beutjer, who started the Illini's first seven games of the season, missed last Saturday's game at Michigan after back pain and a numbness in his right leg became too serious to play with. He said he was starting to lose all feeling and strength in his leg because the disk was pinching his spinal column, which is abnormally shaped like a triangle.

"About two weeks ago, my leg started getting numb. I started getting pins and needles," Beutjer said. "It started going out on me so I knew it was something more than just back pain. I kept trying to play with it, and it just kept making it worse."

Beutjer is still talking with doctors, but he could undergo surgery as early as next week if it is deemed necessary. Surgery could require Beutjer to sit out two months.

"It could not get better, so I'm just praying that it does," Beutjer said.

"The biggest thing is Jon's health down the road," said Illinois head coach Ron Turner. "You're talking about a back so you have to be very careful."

If all goes well, Beutjer will have to decide what his plans will be for next year. He is applying for a sixth year of eligibility with the NCAA because of his transfer from Iowa, but likely won't hear the organization's decision until January.

"I haven't thought about it," Beutjer said. "I just want to get healthy."

In the meantime, Beutjer is helping potential backups Chris Pazan and Dustin Ward prepare to take his place in Saturday's homecoming game against Minnesota.

"He wants this football team to win and he'll do whatever he can," Turner said. "(At) meetings he's pointing out things on film. He's being very helpful. He's preparing like he's going to play. He's out here helping the young guys."

Turner said Tuesday that they are "leaning toward" Pazan as Saturday's starter. Pazan started in the Illini's 56-14 loss to Michigan and threw for 100 yards. Ward came in to relieve Pazan in the fourth quarter and threw for 63 yards.

Ward said the team was told Beutjer's status on Tuesday.

"It's tough to swallow, but he's doing a good job," Ward said. "He's positive. He tries to come out and help in whatever way he can and he's doing a good job with that."

Beutjer said he would try to be on the sidelines against the Golden Gophers to help out, but he would have to miss a return to Iowa City when the Illini play Iowa on Nov. 1. Beutjer transferred from Iowa in 2001.

"My mom's got 25, 30 tickets to sell. I was looking forward to going there, but it wasn't meant to be," Beutjer said. "It's kind of funny. Everyone was so excited about that game ... my family, friends, and I heard they have Beutjer shirts made out in Iowa City trashing me, and now I'm not going to be there."

Halsey also out

Illini running back E. B. Halsey will also miss the Illini's game against Minnesota after suffering a sprained knee at Michigan.

Turner said Halsey's status is "week to week," saying it could be as long as four weeks.

Freshman running back Pierre Thomas will start in Halsey's place. Marcus Mason and Morris Virgil will help Thomas, Turner said.