ESPN's Pete Thamel provides update on Ohio State defenders Michael Hall Jr, Tommy Eichenberg, Josh Proctor

As Ohio State prepares for Minnesota in Week 12, ESPN’s Pete Thamel has provided an update on a slew of Buckeyes defenders.

Specifically, Thamel revealed the statuses of linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, defensive lineman Michael Hall Jr. and Safety Josh Proctor. According to the ESPN reporter, Eichenberg is questionable, Hall Jr. is out and Proctor will be in the lineup.

“Sources: Ohio State defensive lineman Michael Hall Jr. will be out against Minnesota today and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg is considered questionable,” Thamel reported. “Safety Josh Proctor is expected to return.”

Regardless, Ohio State needs to take care of Minnesota. A win is paramount to their College Football Playoff hopes.

Ryan Day hopes to see Devin Brown ‘survive’ warmups, return this week

In other news, Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown had a fluke injury in warmups, so he didn’t go against Michigan State in mop up duty. But head coach Ryan Day anticipates Brown to be good to go for Ohio State’s game against Minnesota.

Of course, Kyle McCord won the job earlier this year, relegating Brown to backup duty. But in five game appearances, Brown is 12-of-22 passing for 197 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also has a rushing score.

But as Day said, it was a small setback ahead of Michigan State.

“He’s alright, just just a bit of a setback there in the warm ups,” Day said. “But you know hoping to see him get back on the field this week and survive warmups.”

Lincoln Kienholz got the backup nod in place of Brown Saturday. He finished the game two-of-three passing for 18 yards in a small sample size.

However, Day was impressed with Kienholz, which should give any Ohio State fan confidence in the quarterback depth.

“In the couple of snaps he was out there, it didn’t look too big for him,” Day said. “I just thought he belonged. He’s still trying to figure it all out. You know, he got an earful for the first time on the field after one of the plays which was good, and he had an answer. I liked it. 

“You know, he came right back with why he did what he did. It’s just the start, but it was good to see him out there getting some plays under his belt and you know, there were some good plays out there.”

But in the case of McCord going down, Day previously said Brown was a “viable” backup quarterback.

“He’s viable, for sure,” Day said. “He’s close to getting back to 100 percent but he’s had a full week of practice here. So, that’s been great and we’re gonna need him here down the stretch. You never know how it’s all gonna shake out. So, the more guys we get back the better we’re gonna be.”