Matt Campbell’s latest update on Koby Howard did not exactly clear the air.
Howard, the star second-year wide receiver, has now missed more than a month after getting hurt against Buffalo in Week 3, and the timeline keeps stretching. He was originally expected to sit out Week 4, then posted on social media a picture of Darth Vader recovering in a bacta tank with the date of the Michigan game in Week 7: 10/17/2026. That date has passed, and Howard still hasn’t made it back onto the field.
Even after Penn State’s Week 8 bye, Howard was out again for the 31-17 Week 9 win over Purdue, along with fellow receiver Chase Sowell. Heading into Week 10 at Washington, Sowell is moving in a better direction, but Howard remains a much murkier case.
“I would say very limited in terms of what he’s done,” Campbell told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Howard’s practice work. Howard did begin practicing last week and was listed as questionable ahead of the Purdue game. A week later, that status hasn’t changed.
“It’s why I keep saying the word questionable,” Campbell continued. “I think we’ll know a lot more by the time we get through tomorrow’s practice of what his availability would be… I think he’s way above where he probably should be, to be quite honest with you, in terms of the actual timeline of this injury, so that’s why we’re going to be 100% smart and try to make the perfect call when he’s available.”
That’s not exactly the kind of update that screams imminent return. Six weeks, and now nearly seven, have passed since Howard was injured, and Campbell’s wording suggests the staff is still treating this as a delicate situation.
There is some logic to that approach. Penn State doesn’t have College Football Playoff pressure hanging over the final stretch, and with Campbell tied to an eight-year, $70.5 million contract after leaving Iowa State this offseason, there’s no obvious reason to force the issue.
At the same time, Campbell may have been careful with his wording for another reason. Big Ten availability reports come out Wednesday night, so saying the staff would know more after Thursday’s practice could be a way to keep Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters guessing about whether Howard will be available in Seattle.
That said, Campbell usually doesn’t seem like the type to play games with injury information, and Penn State’s offense has changed a lot since Howard last played in Week 3. Even offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser may not know exactly what it will look like with Howard back in the mix.
For now, the safest read is that Howard’s injury is still serious and the recovery is taking time. That would make a return this week unlikely, even if Howard had once set the expectation that he might be back for Michigan.
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Penn State Players Just Got Pat Krafts Message Before Washington
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Kraft has been unusually visible around the football program, showing up at games and making his support for players hard to miss. With the season moving on and the next test already waiting, the message was less about the past than the responsibility that still sits in front of the locker room. [Read more 🡒]
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That softer finish matters beyond State College, because an 8-4 Penn State team could still end up shaping the College Football Playoff conversation in a frustrating way. USC, ranked No. 20 in the first CFP rankings, has its own rsum-building stretch ahead with games against Indiana and UCLA, and a 9-3 Trojans finish would look a lot better if it includes a win over Penn State. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces An Early Road Test Fans Should Watch Closely
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Still, this one feels different enough to merit a closer look. The teams have not crossed paths often, and Penn State is entering as a slight underdog, which adds a layer of intrigue to an early-season test far from home. For a team with bigger goals ahead, how it responds in that setting could say plenty about the road ahead, even if the full picture will not be clear until the game is played. [Read more 🡒]