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Abdul Carter injury update: What did Penn State coach James Franklin say about the All-American?

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel01/01/25GregPickel
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Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) practices before the Fiesta Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Penn State coach James Franklin only had a minimal update on the status of star defensive end Abdul Carter following his team’s 31-14 win over Boise State in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday night. The All-American defensive end left the game twice due to injury in the second quarter. After suffering the first setback, he spent some time in the sideline injury tent. He then returned for only one more play before leaving the contest for good. He was favoring his left arm and did not move it much during the remaining 37 minutes or so of football plus the postgame celebration.

“Abdul, I don’t know a whole lot,” Franklin said. “We’ll get that checked out and see. Obviously No. 1, the safety and health and welfare of our guys is priority number one. But then, I know Abdul will want to play next week and will do everything in his power next week if he’s able to. We’ll find out. I don’t know a whole lot more information than that.”

Carter was not available to reporters in the open locker room following the contest. However, in good news for Penn State, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Smith Vilbert, who also left the game at times due to injuries, both met with the media. ‘DDS’ had six tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack. Amin Vanover, then, shined while playing more with Carter out. He finished with six tackles (two for loss), a key second half sack, and a forced fumble.

“This game means a lot,” Vanover, a Penn State senior, said. “I mean, obviously the job is not done. We got a goal in mind, and it’s to go 1-0 every week. That’s really what it is. I mean, that’s we’re trying to go, 1-0 every week, and that’s what we’re going to do.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say a dream come true, but it was definitely exciting fun. You never know when it’s going to happen, when your number’s going to get called, when it’s going to be your time. So you always got to prepare like a starter. And that’s what I’ve been doing my whole time here, no matter what ups, downs, it is what it is. You just got to stay the course, trust in the process, trust your coaches, trust everybody in the building that you chose to trust to come to this school which you committed, and trust the process, and everything should fall out. I’m saying, The job’s not done. I mean, it’s obviously a great thing to go 1-0.. But the job’s not done. We got to go 1-0 again next week.”

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