Ohio State starting tight end Jake Stoneburner will miss his second straight game Saturday, but OSU coach Jim Tressel says quarterback Terrelle Pryor has practiced this week like he's not hurt at all.
View full sizeAn ankle injury will keep tight end Jake Stoneburner (11) on the bench Saturday when the Buckeyes play Indiana at Columbus.COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State starting tight end Jake Stoneburner will miss his second consecutive game, sitting out Saturday against Indiana with a high ankle sprain he suffered against Eastern Michigan.
"I just don't think he'll be ready to go," OSU coach Jim Tressel said Thursday. "It's very close. In my mind, though, he hasn't done enough whacking and pushing off and taking that to the ninth degree. Unless we get some miracle big jump, I don't think we'll be there this week."
Reid Fragel will once again start in Stoneburner's place. Look for the Buckeyes to continue to put seven offensive linemen, along with Fragel at tight end, in for very short yardage. Backup tackles Andy Miller and Andrew Norwell saw action in those formations last week.
Popping brace: When Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor went down against Illinois last week with a strained quadriceps, Pryor said he heard a pop.
"That's a scary phrase," Tressel said, something a coach never wants to hear a player say.
This time, apparently, there was an explanation. Tressel said that the pop was actually Pryor's knee brace. Pryor has been wearing the brace on his left knee for extra protection on his plant leg after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the off-season.
Tressel said Pryor had a great practice on Wednesday and anyone watching wouldn't know Pryor had any type of injury.
"He's been 100 percent," Tressel said. "He was ready to rock and roll."
Schwartz fine: Tressel described the scary moment the Buckeyes went through in practice with backup senior receiver Grant Schwartz on Wednesday. For a brief moment, it brought to the mind the practice injury from April of 2006 suffered by backup receiver Tyson Gentry, who fell awkwardly and was left paralyzed. Schwartz dove for a pass in a one-on-one passing drill and had a defender land with his knee on his back.
"It looked like it was one of those real serious injuries," Tressel said. "Fortunately, I think he was whacked real hard on a nerve, and now he's up and about and walking and doing fine. Those are the moments on the practice field you don't like."
Schwartz will miss Saturday's game but could return for Wisconsin in two weeks.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479