Ohio State tight end Cade Stover exits first half of Peach Bowl with injury

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On3 image — Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images

The Ohio State Buckeyes could be without tight end Cade Stover for the rest of the Peach Bowl due to an injury he suffered in the first half. Losing a big pass catching threat like Stover would be a major hole to fill for the Buckeyes as they seek a trip to the College Football Playoff final.

Cade Stover suffers possible hip, lower back injury

Stover wasn’t the only major tight end to exit the game to the locker rooms early, as Georgia’s Darnell Washington limped off to the locker room earlier in the half as well. Both teams are seeking a trip to the title game where TCU awaits the winner after their tough victory over the previously undefeated Michigan Wolverines.

“Cade Stover has gone to the locker room. Earlier, Georgia TE Darnell Washington went to the Bulldogs’ locker room,” detailed The Dispatch‘s Bill Rabinowitz.

Despite the loss of Stover, the Buckeyes offense jumped out to a hot start in the Peach Bowl with a 21-7 lead early. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs responded in kind as the second quarter continued — tying the game at 21-21 and giving the Buckeyes one more good attempt to score before the half.

The injury to Stover appeared to happen on a play where he was upended on a tackle and landed on the field after an impact to his legs. Stover asked to be taken out of the game after the play, but appeared to be in pain as he jogged off the field.

“A developing situation for Ohio State’s offense,” explained ESPN’s Holly Rowe during the broadcast. “Their great tight end, Cade Stover, with 35 receptions is in the locker room. He was examined by athletic trainers on the sideline for a left upper hip or lower back injury. They would touch on his back and he was wincing, he couldn’t even bear the pressure of where they were pushing. There is an x-ray facility here on site. I will keep you posted when we know more, but it’s a big deal right now — not much depth at that position. Who can fill in, so they can use the formations they want without Stover?”