Ryan Day provides injury update on star receiver Emeka Egbuka
COLUMBUS — Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka went down with an injury in the second half on Saturday against Maryland and did not return to action.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day made sure to update the status of Egbuka ahead of their game at Purdue this weekend. And he wasn’t very clear on how Egbuka’s progress is coming along.
But there certainly is some good news for Egbuka and the Ohio State offense.
“One thing I can tell you is it’s not going to be a long-term issue,” Day said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “We’ll probably have a better idea of how he’s doing later in the week, but the good news was that it’s not a long-term issue.
“We’ll kind of reevaluate it as the week goes on.”
Egbuka is one of the two star receivers for Ohio State alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. Egbuka, a former five-star prospect, has 22 catches for 303 yards and three receiving touchdowns this season.
Now his status moving forward is unclear for the Buckeyes as he hobbled off the field in the second half on Saturday. Day is expected to speak again Thursday and could provide more clarity on the status of his elite pass-catcher ahead of the game at Purdue — and the massive showdown next week against Penn State at home.
Lettermen Row will have more on the status of Egbuka when it becomes available.
Emeka Egbuka did not return Saturday for Ohio State
The team’s leading receiver so far this season didn’t return, although Lettermen Row did see him on the exercise bike during the fourth quarter Saturday.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day provided an update, sort of, on the status of Egbuka immediately after the game in his postgame press conference.
“They’re evaluating him now,” Day said. “It doesn’t seem like something major but, you know, I don’t really have much of an answer for you right now.”
Egbuka had three catches on four targets, totaling 40 yards receiving Saturday against Maryland. He was on his way to helping the Buckeyes offense snap out of its slow start when he was tackled on the opposing sideline and came up limping before falling to the turf and being assisted by trainers.
He then made his way into the medical tent for evaluation before returning to the sideline, using the exercise bike and staying active. He didn’t return to action, however, even missing a punt-return assignment that went to junior wide receiver Jayden Ballard instead.
