Franklin: Penn State football battling spike in early season injuries

Penn State football enters its first off week of 2024 with only eight quarters of play under its belt. But those 120 minutes of action have still highlighted areas that James Franklin and his coaching staff hope to hone as the Nittany Lions prepare for their stretch run of the season.

Although we’re only in September, the wear and tear of the season is already starting to show on the Nittany Lions. Franklin touched upon this growing issue in his one and only media appearance of the week on Tuesday evening.

“The coaches have got to play guys. We need to continue to build depth,” Franklin said when speaking of backup tackle Nolan Rucci’s time in the rotation last Saturday against Bowling Green. “We’ve had more bumps and bruises than this year than we’ve had in the last couple years. Three years ago, we had a decent spike in some bumps and bruises, and we got that right now.

“So we got to develop depth. That’s going to be really, really important for us moving forward, and we got to play them.”

Key bumps and bruises mounting for Penn State football

Injuries have impacted more than just the Penn State offensive front in recent weeks. Over the summer, the Nittany Lions lost expected defensive contributors Zuriah Fisher and Keon Wylie to “significant” injuries. Long-term issues have also sidelined freshman wide receiver Peter Gonzalez and, most recently, redshirt freshman tight end Andrew Rappleyea.

Tight end Khalil Dinkins had one reception for seven yards against Bowling Green, making his 2024 debut after missing a chunk of training camp. However, Penn State football may be without KJ Winston after the junior safety left Saturday’s contest in the second quarter and did not return.

“I can’t get into KJ Winston and why he wasn’t in there. You guys know I don’t talk about those things,” James Franklin said in Saturday’s postgame press conference. Winston wasn’t on the practice field during the media’s viewing window on Tuesday, nor was Franklin asked about his status afterward.

Following a final tune-up against Kent State next weekend, Penn State football kicks off Big Ten play by welcoming Illinois to Beaver Stadium on September 28. The Illini defeated No. 19 Kansas 23-17 last week. The Nittany Lions then battle UCLA at home and USC in Los Angeles before their second bye on October 19.

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