Pair of Ohio State starting offensive linemen exit game in first half at Oregon
EUGENE, Ore. — No. 2 Ohio State lost both redshirt sophomore right guard Tegra Tshabola and redshirt junior left tackle Josh Simmons to injury in the first half of a Week 7 matchup at No. 3 Oregon.
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, 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.
Siereveld was sprung back into action Saturday night at Oregon. Michalski, meanwhile, got his first real opportunity to play meaningful snaps for the Buckeyes.
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Michalski came into the top-three-showdown with 161 career offensive snaps and never more than 79 in one season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Offense wasn’t the issue for the Buckeyes in the first half against the Ducks. Ohio State found the end zone before and after those injuries up front.
Where the Buckeyes struggled was on the defensive side of the ball. They allowed 285 total yards — more than they had given up in any game total this season — including 201 in the second quarter alone.
Ohio State entered halftime trailing, 22-21.
UPDATE (Oct. 12, 9:46 p.m. EST): Tshabola returned to the game at the start of the second half. Simmons, however, did not.
