Penn State football looking for clarity with multiple injured Nittany Lion playmakers

Coming off a 34-27 win over Bowling Green, Penn State football enters a rare Week 3 bye this coming Saturday. But the first of the 2024 season’s two off weeks may be coming just at the right time for the Nittany Lions, as James Franklin and his coaching staff hope to learn more information about injured contributors KJ Winston and Andrew Rappleyea.

Rappleyea was listed as out on the Nittany Lions’ availability report prior to Saturday’s game against the Falcons. The redshirt freshman tight end was later seen using crutches on the Penn State sideline.

“I can’t really speak at this stage on Rap, just because I don’t know,” James Franklin said in his postgame press conference. “To be honest with you, this was very, very recent that this happened. So, I don’t have the information to give to you.

“And as you guys know, I won’t talk about injuries with you guys until I’ve talked to the players and their families and make sure everybody’s okay with it, with the information. But I also, again, I don’t know. Again, it was very recent.”

The No. 2 tight end in the 2023 cycle as ranked by On3, Andrew Rappleyea was already garnering considerable attention through the early weeks of his second season on campus.

“I keep saying Tyler Warren is the most complete tight end in the country; I think Rap’s got a chance to be one of those guys as well,” Franklin said during practice availability last week.

Penn State defense forced to adapt in absence of standout safety

© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Across the line of scrimmage, Penn State football lost one of its most important defenders early in the first half Saturday when junior safety KJ Winston exited the ballgame after a hit on Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin.

While he couldn’t comment on Winston’s departure specifically after the game, James Franklin did speak to the impact the defensive back’s absence had on the Nittany Lion defense. Penn State allowed 286 total yards of offense in the first half before turning the momentum after the break.

“I can’t get into KJ Winston and why he wasn’t in there. You guys know I don’t talk about those things,” Franklin said of the star safety, who is currently second on the team in tackles. “But it obviously increased the amount of reps, you know, for Jay Reed and increased the amount of reps for Zakee [Wheatley], and also kind of changed our ability to be able to get into the package where Jay Reed is playing the Lion position.

“So we needed to be in base a little bit more. It’s hard to get in Prowler if they don’t substitute on third down, which is what a lot of people are doing. They won’t substitute on third down so that we can’t get our Prowler on the field, which is our rush package, which is a smart plan, right? Smart plan. 

“So those are some things that we’re gonna have to work on, specifically during the bye week. Those will be important.”

When might we know more?

Due to the bye, our look into Penn State practice will come on Tuesday evening rather than Wednesday.

Although he doesn’t speak to specific injuries, Franklin may be able to offer more context surrounding the long-term status of both KJ Winston and Andrew Rappleyea.

Penn State football returns to action on September 21 against Kent State. Announced on Monday, kickoff against the Golden Flashes will be at 3:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.

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