Buckeyes starting cornerback Denzel Burke back to work, 'ready to roll'
COLUMBUS — Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke tried to warm up and get comfortable with the massive club on his hand last weekend.
A few days removed from a hand injury just wasn’t enough time to be ready to play.
It seems, however, like a week will be plenty of time for Burke to be up to speed and able to return for the Buckeyes. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said during his lightning round press conference on Thursday that he expects Burke back for the Buckeyes when they face Rutgers at 3:30 on Saturday inside the Horseshoe.
“It was too close from when it occurred to put him in a game,” Day said. “But he’s had a good week of practice, so it’s great to see him back. We’ll see. It may be something we have to keep an eye on here for the remainder of the season and protect it. We’ll see how it heals and how it does.
“But he’s going to be ready to roll this week. We’re excited to see him back on the field.”
Ohio State still won’t be entirely clear on the injury front in the secondary this week after missing both of its starters a week ago. Day said earlier in the week that second-year cornerback Jordan Hancock won’t be ready ‘for another week or so‘ as he battles back from a hamstring issue. As for senior starter Cameron Brown, Day had no updates to provide on his status for this week.
And the Buckeyes may still be thin at cornerback, even with Burke’s return to action.
“We just have to wait and see toward the end the week how those guys are feeling,” Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Walton said. “Hopefully we get them back. It’d be good to be at full strength with them. But we’re trying to get the other guys ready because we won’t know that until probably toward the end of the week.”
At least one of the starters will be back. Denzel Burke is ready to go for the Buckeyes after missing one week.
