Skip to main content
Indiana

Availability Report: Freshman safety remains sidelined for Week 4 clash with Illinois

Browning Headshotby: Zach Browning09/20/25ZachBrowning17
Byron Baldwin Indiana
Indiana's Byron Baldwin Jr. (2) at Indiana University football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. Photo: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Indiana football safety Byron Baldwin Jr. is once again sidelined ahead of Indiana’s Week 4 showdown with No. 9 Illinois, according to the Big Ten availability report.

A few weeks ago, head coach Curt Cignetti initially labeled Baldwin — who will now miss his fourth consecutive game to begin his freshman season — as “day-to-day.” Cignetti declined to add any further detail as to what is keeping one of the Hoosiers’ highest-ranked recruits in program history on the sideline.

SEE ALSO: Gameday Essentials: Indiana football vs Illinois

Also listed on Indiana’s availability report ahead of Saturday night’s Big Ten opener was safety Bryson Bonds and running back Lee Beebe. Bonds, who suffered a knee injury in the Week 1 win over the Monarchs, and Beebe, who suffered a “non-contact knee injury a week ago against Indiana State, will both miss the rest of the season due to their respective injures.

Notably absent from Indiana’s availability report was punter Mitch McCarthy. A transfer from UCF, McCarthy picked up an injury early in Indiana’s season-opening win over Old Dominion. Following his first — and only — punt attempt of the day, McCarthy labored over to the sideline before being replaced by Quinn Warren for the rest of the game. McCarthy missed Indiana’s last two contests but appears set to return Saturday night against Illinois.

There were no other Hoosiers listed on this week’s availability report.

Not yet a member of TheHoosier?  Join our community for Just $1 for your first week and get a complimentary year of The Athletic included with your membership. Join here!

Use the code “IND20” on Rhoback.com for a generous 20% off for all new customers through the end of this week. Rhoback — Best Fit, Best Feel.

You may also like