Ryan Day provides update on Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has won its last two games, against overmatched opponents, without star safety Lathan Ransom.
The Buckeyes will need to win bigger games against better teams without Ransom moving forward. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Ransom still has a chance to return to action this season, but he can’t expect him to be in the lineup against Minnesota this week or at Michigan next week.
This comes after Day finally put a loose timetable on Ransom’s injury Saturday night after the Buckeyes win over Michigan State, when he said Ransom’s issue was more long-term than other injured Buckeyes defensive stars.
Ransom last played in the win over Wisconsin two weeks ago, when he suffered a non-contact injury in the second half of that win in Madison. He did not return to that game and hasn’t played since.
He was spotted on the sideline Saturday night at the Horseshoe, wearing a walking boot and moving around on a scooter to keep weight off his leg.
Now there’s more clarity to his injury. Don’t expect Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom on the field for the rest of the regular season.
Latest on Tommy Eichenberg, Josh Proctor
Ohio State coach Ryan Day did say Saturday after the win over Michigan State that two star Buckeyes defenders who missed a game should be back soon, even as he mentioned Ransom’s status in between giving the positive update.
Day expects star middle linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and star safety Josh Proctor to return to action soon after missing the win over Michigan State. Both left the win over Rutgers on Nov. 4 with injuries.
“We’re expecting to have a good week of practice for both of those guys,” Day said Tuesday.
That’s a better update than Day had Saturday after the win over Michigan State.
“He will be week to week,” Day said about Eichenberg. “It’s not long term. But it will be week to week. And you know, we feel like we’re going to get them back here soon. Lathan’s more long-term.
“But same thing with [Proctor], we think we’ll get him back here real soon.”
In Eichenberg and Proctor’s absence, the Buckeyes got production from some younger defenders who are rising up the depth chart.
“It was great to see some guys step up. You never know how this thing’s going to shake out. You have to have guys play. Even at the end of the game, we’re able to get some guys some reps. Those are precious reps because you just never know when guys are going to have to be put in those situations.”
Ohio State does expect to get both Eichenberg and Proctor back soon. Because even as others stepped up in their absence, both are critical to the success of the Buckeyes defense — and will be especially against Michigan next week.
