Penn State injury updates: James Franklin talks Dom DeLuca, Sal Wormley, and Jalen Kimber
Penn State football is hoping to get three injured players back this week when it meets UCLA at Noon inside of Beaver Stadium. The Lions did not have veteran linebacker Dominic DeLuca available for last weekend’s tilt with Illinois. And, offensive lineman Sal Wormley and cornerback Jalen Kimber both left that game early with apparent injuries.
“We expect to have DeLuca, Wormley, and Kimber back,” head coach James Franklin said Monday. “I don’t have a whole lot more information than that right now. Obviously, the game was Saturday. Sunday is a jog-through. Monday’s the off day. So, we expect those guys back. But I don’t have that information for you right now either.”
Franklin also said that running back Cam Wallace is dealing with a long-term injury. He was hurt late in the Kent State game. And, last but not least, he did not offer an update on offensive lineman JB Nelson, who was also hurt against the Fighting Illini.
While revealing the Wallace news, Franklin also offered insight on how he wants to handle sharing injury information publically.
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More: The way Penn State coach James Franklin talks about injuries has evolved over time; here’s how to understand it now
“I try to be very, very respectful of the student-athletes,” Franklin said. “And specifically, their health. And sometimes you guys ask me [about injuries]. To be honest with you, I almost didn’t have the answer [about Wallace] today. It was going to have to wait until [Wednesday]. Because sometimes, as you can imagine, if it’s a long-term injury, and they’re going to be out, it’s a significant injury, and I don’t want my first conversation to be, can I talk to the media?
“I’d like to support the kid for at least 24 to 48 hours, and sometimes 72 hours. I don’t want my first conversation to be about answering [the] media’s questions. So I get that you guys need the information and you want the information. But, does that make sense? That’s why I’m not answering it right away. I want to be respectful of the kid. I want to have a conversation with the kid, but I also don’t want that to be the first conversation I have with the kid, is about talking to the media. Does that make sense to everybody? So, that answers that question for you guys.”
Franklin will speak with reporters next Wednesday night after practice. Whether or not he has more info on the status of the three players he mentioned by name and/or Nelson remains to be seen. But, questions will likely be asked. And, the above quote helps inform media members and fans how Franklin will answer them moving forward.
