James Franklin comments on two offensive starters injured vs Northwestern

It wasn’t pretty for most of the afternoon, but Penn State football eventually wore down the Northwestern Wildcats to get the 41-13 win in Evanston. However, like we saw two weeks ago at Illinois, the Nittany Lion offense looked sleepy, segmented, and scattered for most of the game. There are many factors that contributed to the disjointed outing, but Penn State certainly wasn’t aided by the loss of two key offensive starters, Kaytron Allen and JB Nelson. After the game, head coach James Franklin provided an update on the status of both players.

JB Nelson and Kaytron Allen exit with first-half injuries

The Penn State offense struggled mightily in the first half against one of the worst defenses in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions only put up 10 points through the first 30 minutes of play before rallying for 31 second-half points against Northwestern.

Amid their first-half struggles, the Nittany Lions lost two of their most important players on offense – OL JB Nelson and RB Kaytron Allen. Nelson was seen being carted off the Penn State sideline during a TV timeout in the second quarter.

Later in the half, Allen also exited the game. Allen was seen jogging with trainers during the halftime break. Although he remained on the sideline throughout the remainder of the game, he did not appear in the second half.

Penn State starting OL JB Nelson carted off the sideline during the TV timeout.

Not good for a line that has yet to get a push today #WeAre

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) September 30, 2023

James Franklin provides injury update for two key Penn State football offensive players

After the win, Penn State football coach James Franklin was asked about the status of Allen and Nelson. While JB Nelson seems to be on the mend, the status of star running back Kaytron Allen is still unclear.

“JB [Nelson] is back and with us,” Franklin said after the game. “Kaytron [Allen], I’m not sure. I haven’t gotten the full medical report.” Franklin also emphasized the importance of the upcoming bye week, as he noted the team was dealing with several “bumps and bruises” during the game.

While the Nittany Lions have two weeks to rest and recuperate before returning to action, Penn State football fans will wait anxiously for an update on Allen. Penn State had 134 rushing yards against Northwestern, but struggled to get going without Allen’s presence. Kaytron Allen had 6 carries for 27 yards when he left the game with an injury.

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