Will Kacmarek injury: Starting tight end 'going to be ready to play' for Buckeyes
COLUMBUS — Ohio State starting tight end Will Kacmarek hasn’t been in action for the Buckeyes since their road loss to Oregon last month, and coach Ryan Day gave a very promising update on the status of the playmaker.
Day was asked again Wednesday night — for the third straight week — about Kacmarek’s progress as he works back from an undisclosed upper-body injury, and his update was certainly promising, even more so than last week’s update. Kacmarek is expected to be ready to play for the Buckeyes in their top-five showdown against Indiana (Noon, FOX).
“It looks like he’s going to be ready to play,” Day said Wednesday night. “He’s had a good week of practice. We’ll see how he does tomorrow and see what he says, see what the doctor says. But he’s had a good week.”
Kacmarek left the Oregon game after just a few plays following a 32-yard reception that set up the game’s opening touchdown by quarterback Will Howard. He hasn’t played since then.
In his absence, the Buckeyes have relied on a group effort from the tight end unit, especially in run-blocking — where Kacmarek was thriving for Ohio State.
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Now that the group has played more and more without Kacmarek, his eventual return will be a massive boost to the offense. That return could be coming soon — Kacmarek is even ahead of schedule. So much so that he’s likely to be in action for Ohio State against Indiana.
Seth McLaughlin update: Ryan Day confirms injury of star center
Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed the devastating news on Wednesday evening: Buckeyes starting center and mid-season All-American Seth McLaughlin will be out for the season with an achilles injury suffered Tuesday.
Former center Carson Hinzman, who started 12 games at center last year for the Buckeyes, will slide into the center role from his current spot at left guard. Of course, that would create an opening at left guard, which will be filled by Austin Siereveld, who started two games at left guard at the beginning of the season.
Day said McLaughlin will have surgery next week to repair the achilles and will be spending this week helping prepare for Indiana.
Day’s confirmation comes just a day after Lettermen Row and others reported McLaughlin’s injury.
