It looks like No. 2 Ohio State will be without receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for its showdown with No. 13 Penn State at noon today.
Sources: Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will not play today against Penn State. He didn’t practice this week, didn’t travel to the game and his return timetable is uncertain. https://t.co/wNOU5SoKiB
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 29, 2022
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that, per sources, Smith-Njigba will miss his fifth game of the season.
He missed four of Ohio State’s first six, and returned to play last week against Iowa. Smith-Njigba limped off the field in the third quarter and didn’t return.
Coach Ryan Day indicated in his weekly press conference Tuesday that Smith-Njigba would be good to go, possibly on a limited snap count. It looks like those plans have changed.
Smith-Njigba lit up college football last season, finishing with 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns on 95 catches. He put on one of the greatest shows in college football history in Ohio State’s Rose Bowl win over Utah, catching 15 balls for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Smith-Njigba’s absence wouldn’t help Ohio State, but its offense has plenty of fire power without him.
Emeka Egbuka (41 REC, 735 yards, seven TDs), Marvin Harrison Jr. (38 REC, 598 yards, 10 TDs) and Julian Fleming (17 REC, 327 yards, six TDs) will give Penn State’s defensive backs plenty to handle.
Penn State and Ohio State kickoff at noon on FOX.
