Lorenzo Styles Jr. injury update: Starting nickel expected to return vs. Penn State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State will be closer to full strength when it takes the field against Penn State on Saturday afternoon.
The Buckeyes, fresh off an idle week of rest, recovery and improvement, expect to have starting nickel cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. back in action for the matchup against the Nittany Lions (Noon, FOX).
Styles hasn’t played for the Buckeyes since the win over Minnesota on Oct. 5, giving him nearly a month off to recover from an undisclosed upper-body injury.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day gave an update on Styles Jr. on Wednesday night.
“Expecting him to play in the game,” Day said. “He’s had a good week of practice. So he’s [just now] getting off the field today, but everything looks good. So we’re excited to have him back.”
The Buckeyes were fine without Lorenzo Styles Jr. in each of the last two games, downing then-No. 17 Illinois 34-16 and then beating Wisconsin 34-0.
In his place, true freshman Devin Sanchez stepped in at outside cornerback while typical outside starter Jermaine Mathews slid in to play nickel. But now both will be back to make this Ohio State defense closer to full strength in Madison a week before the idle weekend for the Buckeyes.
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Styles Jr. has been a mainstay starter in the Ohio State secondary this season, starting in each of the first five games for the top-ranked Buckeyes defense. He has registered 10 solo tackles and a pass deflection in the five games he has appeared in so far this year.
While he was absent, Illinois found some success throwing the football and targeting Sanchez in coverage. Styles’ return allows the Buckeyes to return to their normal starting secondary that has only allowed three touchdowns through the air all season.
He could have played in the win at Wisconsin, and he wasn’t listed on the availability report for that game. He didn’t play, though, instead being available for the Buckeyes only in an emergency role — and he wasn’t needed in the shutout victory.
Now Lorenzo Styles Jr. is expected to make his return to the lineup Saturday afternoon as Ohio State returns to the Horseshoe with a full-strength defensive starting lineup.