SEATTLE – Michigan continued its search for a reliable quarterback Saturday, turning to the bench for the second time this season to find an answer.

After the Wolverines faced a two-touchdown deficit early in their 27-17 loss to Washington, head coach Sherrone Moore replaced starter Alex Orji with veteran backup Jack Tuttle, a 25-year-old journeyman whose offseason was delayed by injury .

And while Tuttle initially provided the spark by leading Michigan on three consecutive scoring drives — turning a 14-0 hole into a 17-14 lead — his costly mistakes late hampered the comeback.

“I think the players fed off of that,” Moore said of Tuttle, who was 10 of 18 for 98 yards and a touchdown. “He practiced well all week and came back healthy, which was great for us.”

Therein lies the most important part of this: health. Tuttle was delayed this season in his recovery from a torn UCL in his right elbow that he suffered last season, limiting his availability and forcing the coaching staff to choose between Davis Warren and Alex Orji at quarterback.

The staff ultimately settled on Warren, the more polished passer of the two, whose 67 percent completion percentage was overshadowed by his six interceptions in three starts. The turnover was too high, they decided, and they continued with the Orji on the ground. But back-to-back games with fewer than 100 passing yards and a slow start on Saturday, when Michigan mustered just 47 yards on its first three drives, paved the way for Tuttle.

“(Last week) was the first week the doctors cleared him,” Moore said. “He had been practicing and doing things, but he really came in this week and felt good. (We) felt confident we could get him back in the game.”

The 25-year-old Tuttle entered the season with the most experience of the quarterbacks, having played in 21 games and made five starts during an earlier stop at Indiana. There he supported Michael Penix Jr. and was hampered by injuries before transferring to Michigan for the 2023 season.

Last year, Tuttle played in six games and served as an emergency backup, playing through a left shoulder injury and the torn UCL.

“It’s definitely been tough,” Tuttle said. “Just to be able to play football again, it’s just a blessing from God. Either way, win or lose, I always thank him for being able to throw the football again. It was a tough nine to ten months, but that doesn’t justify any game. I just have to get better no matter what.”

Immediately entering Saturday’s game, the Michigan offense found success with Tuttle. The Wolverines got on the scoreboard with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 39-yard Donovan Edwards run, and then followed it up with an 8-play, 56-yard drive that set up a field goal.

Michigan even came out of halftime with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a series of well-executed throws from Tuttle, who threw a 32-yard bullet to Amorion Walker, hit Semaj Morgan for a 16-yard reception and rolled to the right and found a wide open Colston Loveland for an 8-yard TD.

“It just gave us a spark, especially the play he threw the touchdown to Colston,” said Edwards, who rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 23 yards. “It was just a big morale (boost). I liked the way he said to everyone before he started the game, “Listen to me, watch me.” Everyone just looked at him. He has great leadership qualities and capabilities.”

While Tuttle provided the spark, he also dampened hopes for a comeback. He fumbled the football away with 8:02 to play in the fourth quarter, giving Washington a short field and four-play, 32-yard touchdown drive. He then threw an interception with 3:24 left, leading to an easy, game-clinching UW field goal.

Turnover has been a sticking point for Moore and his staff when it comes to finding a quarterback. Warren has committed too many, while Orji has only committed one but left the Michigan offense too one-dimensional.

Tuttle seemed to give the Wolverines’ offense a chance, and has the experience to back it up.

“He has a chance to be good since he’s played a lot of college football,” Moore said. ‘We’re going to watch the movie. I have a good feeling about the way he played. I feel good about what he did. If we had to play tomorrow, I’d say Tuttle would be our starting quarterback. I want to build things so that we can be successful with him, and that we can be successful with Donovan and Kalel (Mullings) and the rest of our guys.

“I feel like he gives us a great chance to win; we just have to clean up the turnover and go from there.

Michigan, now 4-2, enters the bye week at a crossroads at quarterback. While Tuttle seems like the right choice for the future, offering the ideal mix of experience, arm and mobility, even he had some flaws that ultimately hindered the comeback.

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