Ohio State heads into Saturday’s trip to Iowa with a couple of important names in limbo, but there’s also a boost on the way.
Starting nickelback Jay Timmons and starting right tackle Phillip Daniels both showed up as questionable on the Buckeyes’ first injury report of the week. Timmons left last week’s game against Illinois with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, while Daniels has been out since getting hurt in the fourth quarter against Texas.
Ryan Day said Tuesday the Buckeyes will “see how the week goes” for both players, a clear sign their status will come down to how much they can get done in practice before kickoff.
The brighter news for Ohio State is that starting defensive end Zion Grady is no longer on the injury report. That points to a return after he missed the last two games with the injury he suffered against Texas. For a Buckeyes pass rush looking for more juice off the edge opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr., that’s a meaningful development.
Ohio State also listed four more players as questionable: tight end Bennett Christian, cornerback Brenten “Inky” Jones, running back Anthony “Turbo” Rogers and linebacker Braxton Rembert. Christian is the only one of that group who has seen regular snaps on offense or defense this season, though Jones has been a core special teams piece.
The Buckeyes’ only players listed as out are three reserves who have not played this season: wide receiver Amari Valerio-Hudson and offensive linemen Jaxon Powell and Vasean Washington.
Iowa’s injury report brings one notable absence in the secondary. Starting safety Tyler Brown is out, after previously missing the Hawkeyes’ first two games of the season with an injury.
He returned for Iowa’s last two games, but Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday Brown is “not fully back yet.” Villanova transfer Anthony Hawkins, who started the first two games in Brown’s place but played only one defensive snap against Michigan, is the likely replacement.
Kyler Gerardy is the only other Iowa player listed as out. Freshman cornerback Darion Jones and backup linebacker Derek Weisskopf are questionable.
If Timmons can’t go, Day said Tuesday that Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Jordan Thomas would be the next options at nickel. When Timmons left against Illinois, Mathews slid inside to slot corner while Cam Calhoun took over Mathews’ spot at outside corner, so that alignment would be the most likely one again.
At right tackle, Ohio State would turn to Austin Siereveld with Gabe VanSickle staying at right guard if Daniels is unavailable. VanSickle has started the last two games there, and Day made it clear Tuesday that his recent play has made the decision more complicated even if Daniels is healthy enough to return.
Tight end could also stay in a familiar rhythm if Christian remains out. Last week, Nate Roberts and Mason Williams handled most of the snaps, with Max LeBlanc and Hunter Welcing rotating in at times. Ohio State is expected to keep leaning on Roberts and Williams at Iowa, while also using the “Bison” package with Jake Cook lining up as a sixth offensive lineman instead of another tight end.
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