Penn State’s tight end room took another hit Saturday, and this one landed on a player who had been doing a little bit of everything.
Andrew Rappleyea, the redshirt junior and former James Franklin-era holdover, caught his first touchdown of the season in the first quarter against Buffalo. By the second quarter, though, the day changed fast.
After securing his third catch, he got up slowly and headed for the sideline. Before halftime, he was on his way down the tunnel to the locker room.
Caroline Hendershot of the Big Ten Network reported from the sideline that Rappleyea was wincing in pain as he moved toward the bench and slammed his helmet in frustration. Hendershot said Rappleyea was “gingerly holding that right shoulder,” the area that appeared to be affected on the play. Rappleyea has not returned to the game.
Later, Daniel Gallen of Lions247 reported that Rappleyea came back to the sideline before the half without his helmet or pads, which suggested his afternoon was finished.
Rappleyea’s exit matters because he has become Penn State’s most complete tight end. The Nittany Lions brought in two Iowa State transfers, Gabe Burkle and Benjamin Brahmer, but Rappleyea had been the one playing the most snaps and handling both sides of the job well.
Burkle is the best blocker in the group, while Brahmer brings the most as a pass-catcher. Rappleyea’s all-around game has let each of them settle into clearer roles.
Even with Luke Reynolds gone to Virginia Tech and James Franklin this offseason, Penn State still looks deep at tight end in 2026. Finn Furmanek has also logged meaningful snaps and would likely be the next man up if Rappleyea is out. Brahmer’s growth as a blocker could also be tested more heavily if Penn State leans on him in the run game.
The injury list did not stop at tight end. Starting center Brock Riker also left early in the first quarter. The Texas State transfer was replaced by Iowa State transfer Vaea Ikakoula, who is listed as a guard on the roster but appears to be the top backup at center.
Penn State has not issued an update on Riker, and he has not returned to the field. It is not fully clear whether his absence is injury-related, though the Nittany Lions could also be using the game to test a different offensive line combination before Big Ten play opens with Wisconsin at Beaver Stadium in Week 4. Campbell had told reporters after a 45-0 Week 1 win over Marshall that Riker was still a young player taking a major jump in competition from Texas State.
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Penn State Has A New Injury Worry Before Wisconsin
Penn State came out of its Week 3 win over Buffalo with a couple of fresh concerns, even if the immediate outlook sounds relatively manageable. Starting center Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea both went down in the first half, briefly thinning out two spots the Nittany Lions would rather keep stable as the schedule tightens.
Head coach Matt Campbell called both players dinged up and said neither injury appears serious, adding that either one likely could have returned if the game had demanded it. Still, with Wisconsin next on the Big Ten slate, Penn State will be watching closely to make sure both are ready, because the margin for error gets a lot smaller once conference play starts to bite. [Read more 🡒]
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The supporting cast did its part, too, as Caleb Bacon and Yvan Kemajou helped set the tone defensively with tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Zay Robinson also added value in the return game with meaningful punt return yardage, giving Penn State another layer of field-position help in a game that looked comfortable but still offered a few fresh names worth watching as the season builds. [Read more 🡒]
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Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser made it clear afterward that Martin has earned opportunities and is expected to be part of the offense moving forward. Quarterback Rocco Becht also showed support during the play, a small but telling sign that Martin is gaining trust inside the huddle as Penn State sorts out how to distribute carries. [Read more 🡒]