Penn State injury report: Lions get a starter back, but a key backup is out at Ohio State

COLUMBUS — Penn State is two hours away from facing Ohio State inside The Horseshoe on FOX. That means the Lions’ and the Buckeyes’ latest availability report is out. Who’s in, and who’s questionable, for interim head coach Terry Smith’s team today? The list is below.

Become part of the Penn State community with Blue-White Illustrated. Start for $1 for the first week (billed annually from there), and get a complimentary year of The Athletic included with your membership.

Who is out and questionable for Penn State today?

Here’s who is OUT:

#7 Kaden Saunders

#13 Tony Rojas

#14 Jaxon Smolik

#15 Drew Allar

#18 Max Granville

#19 Josiah Brown

#23 Tikey Hayes

#30 Kari Jackson

#34 Owen Wafle

#38 Jackson Pryts

#42 Mason Robinson

#58 Kaleb Artis

#59 Brady O’Hara

#61 Liam Horan

#81 Donte Nastasi

#84 Peter Gonzalez

#93 Bobby Mears

#95 Jordan Mayer

Takeaways from the Penn State injury report

The good news is obvious: Guard Vega Ioane is back, and defensive end Zuriah Fisher is available, too.

The bad news is that Penn State will be without backup quarterback Jaxon Smolik on Saturday in Columbus. That is not a great shock after he hurt his wrist two weeks ago at Iowa. Freshman Bekkem Kritza will be the Lions’ backup quarterback behind Ethan Grunkemeyer.

The Lions will also be without backup defensive tackle Owen Wafle.

Please visit our pregame thread in The Lions Den for the latest updates once warmups start.

Want breaking news like this delivered straight to your inbox for FREE? Sign up today for the BWI breaking newsletter! You’ll also get daily updates with the top headlines of the day five times a week. Click here to sign-up!

Reviewing the first Penn State availability reports of the year

Each week, Blue-White Illustrated will note the changes from week to week. You can see the games 1-6 availability reports below to compare to game eight:

Game 7 availability report

Here’s who is OUT:

#7 Kaden Saunders

#13 Tony Rojas

#15 Drew Allar

#16 Bekkem Kritza

#18 Max Granville

#19 Josiah Brown

#27 Lamont Payne Jr.

#30 Kari Jackson

#42 Mason Robinson

#44 Jaylen Harvey

#58 Kaleb Artis

#59 Brady O’Hara

#61 Liam Horan

#71 Olaivavega Ioane

#81 Donte Nastasi

#84 Peter Gonzalez

#95 Jordan Mayer

And here is who is questionable:

NONE.

Game 6 availability report

Here’s who is OUT:

#7 Kaden Saunders

#13 Tony Rojas

#16 Bekkem Kritza

#18 Max Granville

#19 Josiah Brown

#27 Lamont Payne Jr.

#30 Kari Jackson

#42 Mason Robinson

#50 Cooper Cousins

#58 Kaleb Artis

#59 Brady O’Hara

#61 Liam Horan

#81 Donte Nastasi

#84 Peter Gonzalez

#95 Jordan Mayer

Here’s who is QUESTIONABLE:

#7 Zion Tracy

#26 Cam Wallace

#68 Anthony Donkoh

#74 J’ven Williams

Game 5 availability report

Here’s who is OUT:

#7 Kaden Saunders

#11 Lyrick Samuel

#13 Tony Rojas

#16 Bekkem Kritza

#18 Max Granville

#19 Josiah Brown

#26 Cam Wallace

#30 Kari Jackson

#42 Mason Robinson

#58 Kaleb Artis

#59 Brady O’Hara

#61 Liam Horan

#74 J’ven Williams

#81 Donte Nastasi

#84 Peter Gonzalez

#95 Jordan Mayer

Here’s who is QUESTIONABLE:

#14 Jaxon Smolik
#68 Anthony Donkoh

Game 4 availability report:

Here’s who is OUT:

#7 WR Kaden Saunders

#11 WR Lyrick Samuel

#16 QB Bekkem Kritza

#18 DE Max Granville

#19 WR Josiah Brown

#30 LB Kari Jackson

#42 DE Mason Robinson

#58 DT Kaleb Artis

#59 OL Brady O’Hara

#61 OL Liam Horan

#81 WR Donte Nastasi

#84 WR Peter Gonzalez

#95 WR Jordan Mayer

Here’s who is questionable:

#74 OT Jven Williams

Game 3availability report:

OUT:

#7 WR Kaden Saunders

#11 WR Lyrick Samuel

#16 QB Bekkem Kritza

#18 DE Max Granville

#19 WR Josiah Brown

#20 DE Mylachi Williams

#30 RB Amiel Davis

#30 LB Kari Jackson

#31 WR Logan Cunningham

#42 DE Mason Robinson

#58 DT Kaleb Artis

#59 OL Brady O’Hara

#61 OL Liam Horan

#81 WR Donte Nastasi

#84 WR Peter Gonzalez

#88 TE Andrew Olesh

#94 DT De’Andre Cook

#95 DE Jordan Mayer

QUESTIONABLE:

NONE.

Game 2 Penn State availability report:

#6 WR Matt Outten

#7 WR Kaden Saunders

#11 WR Lyrick Samuel

#16 QB Bekkem Kritza

#18 DE Max Granville

#19 WR Josiah Brown

#30 LB Kari Jackson

#42 DE Mason Robinson

#43 DE Dayshaun Burnett

#52 DT Randy Adirika

#58 DT Kaleb Artis

#59 OT Brady O’Hara

#61 OT Liam Horan

#64 OT Eagan Boyer

#67 OL Henry Boehme

#81 WR Donte Nastasi

#84 WR Peter Gonzalez

#95 DE Jordan Mayer

#98 K Matthew Parker

QUESTIONABLE:

NONE.

Game 1 availability report:

OUT

#7 Kaden Saunders
#16 Bekkem Kritza
#18 Max Granville
#19 Josiah Brown
#36 Zuriah Fisher
#42 Mason Robinson
#58 Kaleb Artis
#59 Brady O’Hara
#61 Liam Horan
#64 Eagan Boyer
#81 Donte Nastasi
#84 Peter Gonzalez
#95 Jordan Mayer

QUESTIONABLE

#7 Zion Tracy