Ryan Day shares update on injury to LT Josh Simmons: 'It doesn't look great'
EUGENE, Ore. — A pair of Ohio State starting offensive linemen exited Saturday’s top-three showdown at Oregon in the first half of a 32-31 defeat. Redshirt sophomore right guard Tegra Tshabola came back. Redshirt junior left tackle Josh Simmons didn’t.
Tshabola went down on a 53-yard run by running back TreVeyon Henderson late in the first quarter. Then, on a 3rd-and-9 during the following Buckeyes offensive series in the second quarter, Simmons took a tumble while blocking Oregon outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei. Simmons appeared to grab his left knee after hitting the turf of Autzen Stadium. He was eventually carted off the field.
Redshirt freshman Austin Siereveld replaced Tshabola at right guard. Redshirt junior Zen Michalski replaced Simmons at left tackle.
Siereveld started the first two games of the season at left guard, filling in for then-injured Donovan Jackson. After Jackson returned to the lineup, Siereveld rotated with Tshabola at right guard against Marshall and Michigan State. That said, Tshabola, the team’s starting right guard every game this season, played all but three offensive snaps against Iowa last week, per Pro Football Focus.
Siereveld was thrust back into action Saturday night at Oregon. Michalski, meanwhile, got his first real opportunity to play meaningful snaps for the Buckeyes.
Michalski came into the marquee road game with 161 career offensive snaps and never more than 79 in one season, according to PFF.
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“The injury to Josh Simmons hurt,” Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said postgame. “Zen did a good job of coming in and competing. Tegra went down a little bit there. And so Austin had to go in. So I thought those guys competed.
“I’ll have to get the update on Simmons, but it doesn’t look great in terms of him being able to come back this season. So that’s a big hit for us, but I thought those guys came in and competed in the game.”
Day also noted that he’ll have to figure out exactly what happened to tight end Will Kacmarek, an Ohio University transfer who left the game after making a 32-yard reception on the Buckeyes’ game-opening touchdown drive.
While Ohio State found the end zone both before and after its offensive line injuries, the Buckeyes notably struggled to run the ball in the second half. They ran the ball for just 19 yards on 12 carries over the final two quarters after piling up 122 rushing yards on 21 attempts across the first two frames.
