Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson expected to return from injury vs. Michigan

Penn State is getting back one of its top players for Saturday’s game against Michigan. EDGE Chop Robinson is expected to play on Saturday, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Robinson was injured last month during a loss to Ohio State. He missed the past two games against Indiana and Maryland, but is now set to return.

Robinson is one of the top EDGE defenders in the Big Ten. The junior has 5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks on the season.

Penn State head coach James Franklin said earlier this week that he was hopeful Chop Robinson would be able to suit up against the Wolverines.

“I think I said that to you guys on Monday. We’re hopeful that he’ll be ready to go,” Franklin said Wednesday night, according to Blue White Illustrated. “I spent most of the time on the offense’s side of the field [Wednesday night]. I got to watch the tape. He looked good on Sunday. Looked good on Monday. I’ll watch the tape. But yeah, [he looked] good.”

Even though Robinson did not play last weekend against Maryland, he did attend the game and go through warm ups.

“I thought being able to travel [Robinson] was big, not only from a rehab standpoint to get him with our trainers and doctors, but also from a morale standpoint,” Franklin said. “That was something we talked about in the locker room, of not just finding a way to get a win and playing well, but also playing for Chop with his inability to play last week. So we’re hopeful to have both of those guys back.”

James Franklin shares message to Penn State team with Jim Harbaugh suspended

While Chop Robinson will be taking part in the Michigan-Penn State game, Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh will not.

Michigan will be without Harbaugh on Saturday as the request for a temporary restraining order will not be ruled on before the game with Penn State.

Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin joined ESPN College GameDay Saturday morning and shared his message to his team with Harbaugh suspended.

“We have not really kind of gotten into it at all,” Franklin said. “We addressed it with the team after practice yesterday, just so they knew. But it was literally a 30-second conversation. Besides that, we’re focused on what we’ve seen on tape.”

What James Franklin has seen from Michigan on tape impresses him.

The Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 10 Penn State.

Michigan is ranked No. 5 nationally in scoring offense at 40.7 points per game and leads the nation in scoring defense at 6.7 points per game.

Franklin is well aware that the Penn State offense will have its hands full against the Wolverines defense.

“We have to be balanced, but we also have to be aggressive. We’ve got a ton of respect for their defense and specifically their front seven,” Franklin said. “They’ve done a really good job all year long, so it’ll be a challenge.”