Ohio State may have to make do without two key pieces when it faces Kent State this week.
Ryan Day said Wednesday that right tackle Phillip Daniels and defensive end Zion Grady are unlikely to play after both were hurt against Texas, though he stopped short of calling either injury a long-term issue.
"Those guys right now haven't really practiced much this week," Day said. "We'll have to see coming out of tomorrow how it shakes out.
I would say it's probably trending toward them not being available. But we'll see how tomorrow goes."
Daniels was injured late in the fourth quarter against Texas when trainers worked on his right leg. He needed help getting off the field and did not return.
In his place, Gabe VanSickle moved to right guard, while Austin Siereveld took over at right tackle. VanSickle had already spent time with the first-team offense in Week 1 against Ball State, with Siereveld at right tackle, when Daniels was briefly removed from the game for performance reasons.
Luke Montgomery said Wednesday that VanSickle is a dependable option.
"Gabe's been great. He's definitely a guy you can count on in a couple of different positions," starting left guard Luke Montgomery said after practice Wednesday.
"He's a baller. He's strong.
I have full trust in him, so he'll be great. He'll do his job."
Joshua Padilla is also a possibility at right guard, but VanSickle appears to be ahead of him after preseason camp and is more likely to get the start if Daniels sits.
Grady’s situation is a little less settled. He started the first two games, which was a bit of a surprise given that Beau Atkinson seemed to be the favorite opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr. for much of camp.
But Grady had clearly won that job through two weeks before leaving the Texas game with a knee injury in the second quarter. He was on a stationary bike on the sideline after coming out of the medical tent and never returned.
If Grady can’t go, Atkinson and Qua Russaw are the likeliest players to get the first chance to line up opposite Jackson. Ohio State also showed some flexibility against Texas, with Eddrick Houston and James Smith sometimes moving to the edge instead of staying inside. Epi Sitanilei, a second-year defensive end like Grady, could also see more snaps.
One name fans are eager to see is freshman Khary Wilder. He played just five snaps against Texas but still managed two pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He also came close to a sack against Ball State, and his pressure helped force Keldric Luster into an interception by TJ Alford.
Day said Tuesday that “Khary's a guy that we've got to try to figure out ways to get him into the game.”
“He doesn't stay blocked for very long. Plays with a very high motor.
You can see that when you watch the game or watch the film ... He's going to get more and more opportunities,” Day said on 97.1 The Fan last week.
The bigger issue for Ohio State’s defensive front is that it still hasn’t solved the pressure problem from the Texas game. Losing Grady only makes that task tougher.
"We just didn't get enough pressure on the quarterback to go finish the game and win the game for us," Day said Tuesday.
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Safety Earl Little Jr. acknowledged the need for improvement and stressed that every defender has to own his assignment if the unit is going to hold up against conference offenses. The coaching staff has kept practice demanding for exactly that reason, pushing the Buckeyes to sharpen the details now rather than hope they sort themselves out later. [Read more 🡒]