Cameron Brown on 'pitch count,' easing back into Ohio State lineup

COLUMBUS — Ohio State needs a healthy Cameron Brown in the secondary this fall.

They should have one in time for the season opener at Minnesota.

Brown was back on the practice field Wednesday morning and going through drills. After tearing his Achilles tendon at the end of October last season against Penn State, he began attacking his rehab and setting himself up for a return to the starting lineup in time for training camp.

After missing most of spring practice due to the injury, Brown was limited in action on the first day of camp. But he was on the field — a sign that he’s progressing and slowly making his way back.

“He’s easing his way back into practice,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Wednesday. “He look good running around out there. We’re going to put a lot of these guys when we call ‘pitch counts.’ So they only have so many practices, we ease in. They have only so many reps in practice, and then hopefully by the middle of next week, they’re full-go.”

Brown was a full-go starter to begin last season. He was slated to be a breakout performer in the secondary that lost three of four starters following the 2019 season. And he seemed to be on track to have a strong season until his injury, one that forced the Buckeyes to reach deep into an already depleted secondary.

Brown’s absence proved to hurt Ohio State for the rest of the season; the Buckeyes finished with the No. 122 defense against the pass in America.

“It’s very costly,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said last fall after the injury. “Cam came with experience this season in a position where we couldn’t afford to lose anyone. So, to lose Cam, that’s a significant hit. Obviously we wish for him to get a healthy procedure and healthy recovery, and we really feel bad for him and his family.”

Brown did have a healthy procedure and a healthy recovery. After just nine months, he’s back on the practice field gearing up for another chance to become a key starter in the Ohio State secondary.

Over the next few weeks, he’ll ramp his way back into a full workload, the kind of playing time he had last year before the injury. For now, his snaps are being counted — but that number will increase as training camp goes on.

“There are some guys who are still coming off of those injuries and like they’re easing their way into camp,” Day said. “A lot of guys are back but but a lot of those guys to adjust there’s probably a handful like five or six guys that they’re just kind of working their way back into camp.”

Cameron Brown might just be back to his preseason form from last season soon. Ohio State needs him to be.