Ohio State got encouraging news on two injured players Wednesday, but the Buckeyes still have a couple of question marks heading into this week’s game against Illinois.
James Smith and Legend Bey are not on the first Big Ten availability report of the season, which means both players have been cleared to play after leaving last week’s game against Kent State with injuries. Smith was carted to the locker room with a cast on his wrist after getting hurt in the third quarter, while Bey tweaked his ankle on his lone rushing attempt of the game in the second quarter and never got the green light to return.
That leaves Phillip Daniels and Zion Grady as the biggest concerns. Both are listed as questionable after suffering lower-body injuries in Ohio State’s loss at Texas two weeks ago.
Neither practiced last week, and neither suited up against Kent State. Ryan Day said Tuesday that Daniels would practice in some capacity this week, but the Buckeyes will have to wait and see whether that’s enough for him to go.
Tight end Bennett Christian is also out for this week. His injury timing is a little murky, since he still played 20 snaps against Kent State - the second-most among Ohio State tight ends behind Nate Roberts.
The rest of the report includes a few more names worth watching. Wide receiver Kyle Parker and running back Anthony “Turbo” Rogers, who have not played yet this season because of injuries, are listed as questionable. Walk-on offensive lineman Ian Gecse is in that same group.
Reserve offensive linemen Vasean Washington and Jaxon Powell are listed as out along with Christian.
If Daniels can’t go, Ohio State’s answer at right tackle should look familiar. Austin Siereveld would slide from right guard to right tackle for a second straight week, and Gabe VanSickle would make his second consecutive start at right guard.
Grady’s absence would keep Qua Russaw in the starting role he filled last week, with Beau Atkinson and Epi Sitanilei seeing more snaps off the bench. All three would be in line for action opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr., and freshman Khary Wilder could also get more run, though Ryan Day said last week that Wilder’s Big Ten playing time will likely mostly come in the Rushmen package.
At tight end, Christian’s absence would leave Mason Williams and Roberts to handle most of the work. Ohio State could also turn to Hunter Welcing or Max LeBlanc for a few snaps, or lean more on the “Bison” package with Jake Cook as a sixth offensive lineman instead of using as many traditional multi-tight end looks.
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For Buckeyes fans, that evaluation hits close to home because it frames the matchup in Columbus as the outlier in Mannings season rather than the rule. Since then, Manning has been productive but not overwhelming, and the spotlight only figures to get brighter with Tennessee next on the schedule, a game that could go a long way toward defining how his season is remembered. [Read more 🡒]