The Penn State Nittany Lions' injury report heading into Saturday's game against the Wisconsin Badgers is lengthy and a point of serious concern.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are up against it already for Saturday's game against the Wisconsin Badgers.
It has been smooth sailing for them through the first three weeks of the season with easy wins over Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo. However, it came at a pretty high cost. As Penn State turns its attention to Big Ten play, they do so bruised and battered.
The injury report that was released this week was pretty insane to look at. Nine players are already listed as out, while six more are listed as questionable.
The obvious headliner in all of this is wide receiver Koby Howard. Howard has been the surprise of the season to this point, as he has been statistically the best wide receiver in the Big Ten. He has provided an element of explosiveness to the Penn State offense that they have been chasing since, well, since forever.
He is a legitimate big play threat, and his injury is being talked about very ominously and will sideline him for a couple of weeks.
It doesn't stop there.
While Howard is out, three critical offensive pieces are questionable for Saturday. It starts with center Brock Riker. Riker is a redshirt sophomore transfer who has aspirations of being one of the best centers in the country. Having him will be critical.
If he is out, one of his backups and a depth piece on the offensive line, Dominic Rulli, is also listed as questionable. Rulli is pencilled in as the third-string center, inherently the backup if Riker is out.
Finally, one of the stable of tight ends is on the report. Andrew Rappleyea is questionable. He is listed as a starting tight end but, from the passing game perspective, has hardly made a contribution. This year, he has five catches for 47 yards.
Several of the other names on this list are depth pieces for the Nittany Lions, but the reality remains. Seeing an injury report this full is good for no one, and it is not a good sign.
Saturday feels like a must-win football game, and Penn State is looking at having to do it down their best receiver and starting center.
It is critically important for them to get out of this game with a victory to show America that this program is still in a good spot and is more importantly, in good hands under Matt Campbell.
It is going to be an uphill battle. One that the Nittany Lions are going to have to climb.
