C.J. Stroud returning to practice, still Ohio State starter if healthy
COLUMBUS — C.J. Stroud is back on the practice field at Ohio State.
Whether that clears the way for him to return to the starting lineup at quarterback hasn’t been officially determined quite yet.
The Buckeyes gave the redshirt freshman a week of rest and the night off against Akron, hoping to get his injured shoulder closer to full strength before the Big Ten season resumes at Rutgers on Saturday. There have already been signs of progress on that front for Stroud, which will likely have him trending toward a return to the Ohio State lineup for a key road trip for the four-time defending Big Ten champions.
And if he’s healthy, coach Ryan Day left no doubt that C.J. Stroud would take the first snap again for the Buckeyes.
“Yes,” Day said simply on Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. ” … I’m optimistic that coming off of Sunday’s practice and with the feedback I’ve got from the medical staff and the trainers that we’re ready to move forward.
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“We’ll see how [Tuesday] goes. I thought the week helped him, and it sounds like it’s going in the right direction. We’re hoping for a great day of practice.”
C.J. Stroud didn’t get any of them last week for Ohio State coming off an outing when he was visibly uncomfortable with the pain in his throwing shoulder. That issue had lingered since dealing with load-management practices during training camp and a huge hit to his upper body in the opener at Minnesota.
But Stroud was chosen as the leader for the Buckeyes for a reason after leading the race since spring practice. And assuming he’s fully healthy following his early breather, his grip remains secure on the top job.
