Ryan Day provides injury updates on Steele Chambers, Xavier Johnson
COLUMBUS — Ohio State linebacker Steele Chambers was on crutches, and wide receiver Xavier Johnson was on a leg scooter with a walking boot Friday.
Both will be out the rest of the spring, according to head coach Ryan Day.
“He’ll be back for preseason and should have a pretty good summer,” Day said of Chambers after the Buckeyes’ 11th spring practice. “Xavier’s probably a little bit longer, but, still, we’ll have him for the summer. It’s not going to be something that’s going to affect him in the preseason.”
Chambers told Lettermen Row Saturday that he has turf toe but will not be having surgery. Instead, he will be letting the injury heal completely before returning to the field.
Now, Ohio State will be without both of its starting linebackers and three of its top-four wideouts for the final leg of spring ball. Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg has already been out this spring while rehabbing. The same goes for wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming.
C.J. Hicks took the place of Chambers during Friday’s practice, joining Cody Simon — the Buckeyes’ third linebacker in 2022 — in the second level for first-team reps. Meanwhile, Gabe Powers and Reid Carrico, along with walk-ons Jackson Kuwatch and Jalen Pace, worked in with the second team.
Johnson’s absence has created even more reps for a crowded Buckeyes wide receiver room, which position coach and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline said earlier this spring is six-to-seven players deep. Hartline also mentioned that the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 receivers are better now than they were at this point last year. The additional reps certainly have played a role in that development.
The unconventional wide receiver depth chart has afforded true freshman wideout Carnell Tate to get a good bit of time with the ones. It’s allowed Marvin Harrison Jr. to add to his route tree with continued reps in the slot.
As for a follow-up on Student Appreciation Day injuries: Zen Michalski was back in the mix at right tackle with Tegra Tshabola. And Syracuse transfer safety Ja’Had Carter, who suffered an apparent right knee injury last weekend, was in uniform, although he didn’t participate during team periods.
With Carter unavailable for those periods, Cam Martinez kept making a home for himself at the nickel spot with the first-team defense. In fact, he even jumped a Kyle McCord pass for what would have been a pick-six had the play not been blown dead.
Perhaps the best news for Ohio State is that the injuries it is dealing with don’t seem to be long term. That alone is a win for spring ball.
Note: This article was updated on April 8 at 10:55 A.M. with more information about linebacker Steele Chambers’ injury status.
