Penn State heads to Temple in Week 2 with a few injury situations still hanging over the Nittany Lions, but the biggest concern on the list is already spoken for: defensive end LaVar Arrington II is out.
Matt Campbell said Arrington is expected to miss four to six weeks after knee surgery before the season, which could put his return somewhere around Week 6 or 7. Penn State could also decide to wait until after the bye week, depending on where he is in the recovery process and whether the Nittany Lions need him back sooner.
Even without him, the defensive end group has enough depth to absorb the loss. Caleb Bacon was a standout against Marshall in Week 1, and Max Granville plus Yvan Kemajou are still in the mix for D’Anton Lynn.
The offensive line situation looks more manageable. Offensive tackle Owen Aliciene is questionable after sitting out Week 1 and not dressing for pre-kickoff warm-ups.
He was limited in practice leading up to the regular season, but Penn State’s line held up fine against Marshall, and Malachi Goodman appears to be the best fit at left tackle. Aliciene’s status doesn’t seem to be a major issue for the Nittany Lions, especially with non-conference games still on the schedule.
At defensive tackle, Armstrong Nnodim and Alijah Carnell are also questionable after missing Week 1. William Horstman of Penn State on SI reported that both were warming up before Saturday’s game, and that’s a step forward after neither suited up last week. They weren’t central figures in the opener anyway, with Keanu Williams, Dallas Vakalahi, Siale Taupaki, and Ty Blanding handling most of the snaps inside and doing the job against Marshall.
Two players appear closer to making their season debuts. Tight end Gabe Burkle is probable after recovering from a knee injury, and he was doubtful against Marshall last week. Andrew Rappleyea and Benjamin Brahmer carried the load as receivers and blockers in the opener, but Burkle’s return would give Taylor Mouser another piece to work with as Penn State sorts out the tight end rotation.
Linebacker Alex Tatsch is also probable after being doubtful in Week 1 because of an undisclosed injury. His path back into the lineup looks a little cleaner than Burkle’s, even in a talented linebacker room. With Bacon now at defensive end, there should be room for snaps to be spread around.
In Other News...
Penn State Just Lost A Defensive End It Couldnt Afford To Lose
Penn States defensive line took another hit in practice, with defensive end Max Granville set to miss the rest of the season after a new injury, as announced by head coach Matt Campbell. Granville had worked his way back onto the field this year after sitting out the entire previous season, so this latest setback lands especially hard for a group that was already counting on him to provide depth and energy off the edge.
The injurys nature was not disclosed, leaving the program with one more unanswered question at a position where availability has already been an issue. For a defense that needs steady rotation and dependable pressure up front, losing Granville again is the kind of blow that can ripple beyond one roster spot and force the staff to reshuffle its plans in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces An Early Test On The Edge In Week 2
Penn State is already dealing with a hit to its edge depth heading into Week 2, as defensive end Max Granville will sit out the Temple game because of injury. Granville took part in the season opener against Marshall, logging 22 defensive snaps without showing up on the stat sheet, but he was still part of the early rotation the Nittany Lions were trying to settle.
His absence puts a little more pressure on the defensive end group to hold up as Penn State tries to move to 2-0 under head coach Matt Campbell. Early September is often about sorting out roles as much as chasing wins, and this is one of those spots where the staff will have to adjust quickly while waiting to see how long Granville is sidelined. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Gets An Early Test As Key Lions Near Return
Penn State heads into its 2026 trip to Temple with a chance to keep building on what it showed against Marshall, when the offense leaned on explosive plays, yards after the catch and a steady running back rotation to create separation. The defense also left reason for optimism, especially in the secondary, where the Lions handled their business well enough to make that early road opener feel like more than a tune-up.
The bigger picture is that this one arrives as Penn State starts a stretch of five road games in 2026, so getting healthier now matters. There is also some movement to watch on the depth chart, with the staff expecting a couple of key players back in the mix after missing last week, while Temples tendencies on both sides of the ball should offer a different kind of test than Marshall did. [Read more 🡒]