Devin Royal injury update: Jake Diebler shares where Ohio State forward stands in recovery

Ohio State will just have to see going into this week’s game as far as the status of Devin Royal.

Jake Diebler provided the latest on Royal during his press conference on Monday. He said his next stop after meeting with the media was to go into the facility and get an update for himself on the team, specifically Royal.

“Yeah, um, first place I’m going as soon as I leave here is to the training room to see exactly where we’re at for today,” said Diebler. “You know, Devin was, was in here this morning and getting worked on.”

As of that moment, though, Diebler said the Buckeyes were uncertain about where Royal was. They’re hoping he won’t miss their next game but, for now, he noted him as day-to-day.

“It’s too early to tell, you know, right now. It’s just too early to tell but I think certainly optimistic and hopeful and prayerful that, you know, he’ll be able to go,” said Diebler. “It’ll be kind of a day-to-day thing right now.”

Royal, their second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, left in the first half of their game at Nebraska on Sunday, which they lost at 79-71, with an injury to the lower portion of his right leg. He returned but was limited for the remainder with him since having a boot on that foot and ankle area. With that, Royal tied a season-low in points and grabbed four rebounds while setting a season-low in minutes with fifteen.

That was more frustrating for Royal who wanted to play in the second half but Diebler knew he couldn’t go.

“Again, he’s tough. He’s a tough kid,” said Diebler. “He obviously – I didn’t think he was going to be available at all in the second half and then became available. And then I just saw it, you know – like, we’ve got to get him out. He wanted to be out there.”

Royal may or may not be able to play now against Washington on Wednesday with Diebler wanting to know that as much as anyone. Still, if he is able to by then, he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow for the Buckeyes.

“I think that’s the thing, you know. If he can go, he’ll go because he wants to be out there,” said Diebler. “But we’ll see, yeah. Wish I could give you (something) because I’d sleep better if I had that answer too.”